Italian psychologists’ and midwives’ perceptions of the pregnant teen: a qualitative study
Background: Although debate on adolescent pregnancies has continued for many years, only a few studies have paid attention to the attitudes of health workers and their perceptions of these teens. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate and describe
midwives’ and psychologists’ perceptions of the pregnant teens arriving at the health centres – either who wanted to become mothers or to interrupt pregnancy – analysing health workers’ reflections on their experiences of caring for these teens during pregnancy
in the Italian context. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 22 health workers in order to describe their perceptions of Italian pregnant adolescents. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Data analysis identified three themes arising from health workers
narrations: ‘teen identities’, with the subthemes confused teens, omnipotent teens and immigrant teens; ‘maternal bonding’, with the subthemes supportive mothers and self-centred mothers; and ‘social support demand’, with the subthemes support-seeking teens,
self-excluded teens and unsupportive young partners. Conclusion: The results provide an interesting picture of health workers’ perceptions of Italian pregnant adolescents adding new knowledge that will be useful for better planning interventions with pregnant teenagers.
Keywords: midwives; perceptions; pregnancy; termination of pregnancy
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, CRIdeeDipartimento di Psicologia, Milano, Italy
Publication date: 01 September 2011
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