Teenage motherhood and child outcomes: Evidence from South Africa

Background: Child development and life outcomes are partly linked to prenatal and maternal conditions such as mother’s age at birth. Thus, the issue of teenage motherhood has attracted significant concern from researchers and policymakers because of its potential implications for children. The existing literature on effects of teenage motherhood on children is typically limited to weight at childbirth. Other studies are mainly descriptive in nature and do not account for selection bias associated with teenage mothers and their deprived environment resulting in their children also being brought up in similar environment.Aim: This article examined the effects of teenage motherhood on child outcomes, specifically on children’s education, economic well-being, reported health status and body mass index (BMI).Setting: Children (0–14 years) of teenage mothers (less than 20 years at first birth) in National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS) data constitute the subjects under investigation in this study.Methods: Using NIDS data, the study applied pooled regression, random effects model and propensity score matching (PSM) technique to examine the effect of teenage motherhood on child outcomes.Results: The study confirms that the PSM method is more robust to selection bias than pooled regression and random effect techniques. The findings from this study reveal that teenage motherhood significantly increases child grade repetition and economic dependency. However, teenage motherhood association with child health and BMI is found to be insignificant.Conclusions: Teenage motherhood has far-reaching effects on children outcomes, thus proactive, reactive and post-active policies and programmes focusing on minimising the effect of teenage motherhood and enhancing children’s welfare are recommended.

Teenage motherhood

Anita Johnson discusses the history, politics and misconceptions surrounding teenage motherhood in England and Wales over the last century

View and Experiences of Unwanted Pregnancy Among Malays Teenage Mother

Ex-nuptial pregnancy among teenagers in Malaysia associates with negative consequences. However, perspective from them is lacking. To explore their experiences and perspective in addressing this phenomenon. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with informed consent among 10 young women who experienced becoming unwed mothers during adolescents. Data were encoded and analyse using Qualitative Data Analysis Miner Program and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes emerged; sexual activity trajectory, motherhood struggles to them, formula of resilience teenage mothers and life after misery. Perspectives from them are vital. Great support strategies could assist them for a better life. Keywords: teenage, motherhood, pregnant, sexuality, Malaysia eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI4.2896

Impact of Free/Subsidized Secondary School Education on the Likelihood of Teenage Motherhood

Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, have introduced free/subsidized secondary education. This paper examines the role of these free/subsidized education policies on teenage motherhood. To identify the causal effect, I exploit the timing of a national reform in Kenya that eliminated/subsidized secondary school fees using a difference-in-difference estimation design. Using the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), I estimate that the likelihood of teenage motherhood decreased by approximately 5 percentage points after the policy's implementation. This study reiterates that the teenage period is crucial in terms of developing human capital through formal schooling. In most developing countries, parents often determine and fund human capital, which makes household wealth/income a critical factor in human capital accumulation and its intergenerational process. I also highlight positive externalities from educational-centered policies, such as long-term economic growth, poverty reduction, and reduction of social welfare dependency.

INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF TEENAGE MOTHERS RESILIENCY IN OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES IN PREGNANCY AND EARLY MOTHERHOOD IN SOUTH AFRICA

The phenomenon of teenage motherhood is a major concern worldwide. The teenage mothers endure many challenges that could affect their academic goals and successes if there is insufficient support. However, some teenage mothers manage to develop certain forms of flexibility to manage these adversities. This study explored the teenage mothers' resiliency in overcoming adversities in pregnancy and early motherhood at a rural high school in South Africa. Within the Interpretative Phenomenological qualitative paradigm, an exploratory case study research design was adopted. 10 participants (N=10) were selected from a rural high school district using a purposive sampling technique. The study employed semi-structured interviews to collect data. The findings demonstrated that teenage mothers were resilient to continuing and completing their schooling by adopting self-motivation and school and family support. This study suggested that the South African Department of Education should develop a training programme for teenage mothers on psychosocial adjustment mechanisms to help them cope with their situations. Keywords: interpretative phenomenological analysis, rural high school, teenage motherhood, teenage mother resiliency, teenage pregnancy

A Retrospective on Teenage Pregnancy in Poland: Focussing on Empowerment and Support Variables to Challenge Stereotyping in the Context of Social Work

The article focuses on selected predicators of successful and fulfilling teenage motherhood. It contains analysis of qualitative data, obtained through comprehensive interviews and field notes from social work practice, based on the personal experiences of teenage mothers and a court appointed family curator. Using herstory perspective, it aims to present positive examples of teenage motherhood as a source of empowerment and independence, to unveil and combat stereotypical views on adolescent mothers in Poland. Moreover, the authors discuss systemic issues and challenges as well as a social stigma created by public opinion and aim to challenge harmful stereotyping. The article contributes to social work practice for the purpose of enhancement of the international comparative studies in this field.

Nastoletnie macierzyństwo wyzwaniem współczesnych czasów

Teenage Motherhood as a Challenge of Modern Times Adolescence tends to be perceived as a time of seeking autonomy and independence, as well as of reorganizing one’s social functioning and forming one’s identity. Young people wish for their concepts of themselves and their future lives to remain cohesive and stable. Undoubtedly, motherhood belongs to one of the most important experiences which shape a woman’s life in a certain way. It is clearly connected with the biological nature as well as with certain sociocultural expectations. Teenage motherhood tends to be perceived as a serious problem in social discussions. Becoming a mother before the coming of age is connected with the necessity of accepting responsibility for the child and it contributes to a change of the previous way of functioning. The aim of the paper is to present the specificity of the period of adolescence, teenage motherhood, difficulties and the role of support for the young mothers.