A Phenomenological Study of Adolescent Mothers: The Gap Between Antenatal Care Services Received and Actual Needs

Abstract

This phenomenological study aimed to investigate the meanings and experiences of access to antenatal care services as perceived by adolescent mothers in Nakhon Phanom Province. The key informants were purposively selected and consisted of 19 pregnant adolescents aged 14-18 years who received services at the antenatal care clinic of Nakhon Phanom Hospital. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, document reviews, and field notes. Content analysis and essential theme analysis were used to analyze the data.

The findings revealed six main essential themes:1)Confronting Reality Amidst Fear and Shame: "unplanned pregnancy,""fear of social judgment and stigma from others,"and "shame and loss of dignity." 2) Concealment and Delayed Access to Services Until getting to a Crisis Point: "long-term concealment of pregnancy,""suffering from abnormal symptoms without seeking help," and "accessing services only when reaching life-threatening crisis points."3) The Power of Love and Family Support: "family acceptance and adaptation process" and "emotional and psychological support," 4) Learning and Awareness of the Importance of Antenatal Care: "lessons learned from previous miscarriage or complication experiences,""awareness of antenatal care benefits for maternal and child health,"and "development from ignorance to awareness." 5) Need for Youth-Friendly and Age-Appropriate Services:"separate antenatal care services specifically for adolescents"and "integrated comprehensive health services in a single visit." 6) Need for Information Support and Continuous Care: "access to instant health information through digital channels" and "home visits during the third trimester for continuity of care."This study will help develop one-stop services and utilize digital channels for adolescent mothers and their families.