Experiences of mothers of pregnant unmarried adolescents in a community in Lesotho

English: The mothers of pregnant unmarried adolescents often go through various difficult situations as they attempt to support their adolescents through the pregnancy. Some of the problems they encounter can have harmful effects on their own health, on the health of the pregnant adolescents and/or even on the development of the expected baby. In Lesotho it is socially unacceptable for an unmarried adolescent to become pregnant. This state of illegitimacy usually carries a stigma or deformation of character that can affect the adolescent mother-to-be and her child before and/or after birth. The purpose of this study was firstly to explore and describe the experiences of mothers (or mother-figures) who lived with pregnant unmarried adolescents in a community in Lesotho. Secondly, to formulate appropriate guidelines for supporting the mothers of pregnant unmarried adolescents, depending on the findings, to promote, maintain and restore optimum health for themselves, the pregnant adolescents and their expected babies. An explanatory, descriptive, contextual qualitative research design was used. Data were collected by in-depth phenomenological interviews. Guba's model of ensuring trustworthiness was applied. The analysis of data was according to Tesch's (1990) model. The respondents were fourteen in all. Four themes that emerged from the analysis of the results were: emotions, relationships, physical/social problems and religion. The emotions that dominated in all the respondents were anger, hurt, worry and finally acceptance. The relationships between the respondents and the adolescents were supportive. However the relationships between the respondents and their spouses, relatives and the community were either supportive or non supportive. Some of the physical/social problems that the respondents experienced were fatigue, sleeplessness, financial shortages and discrimination. The religion of the some respondents gave them the courage to face their problems, while other respondents were embarrassed and discriminated against by their churches. The results thus revealed both the negative and positive experiences of the mothers. However, as the mothers were the primary caregivers of the adolescents and the source of material and emotional support, they had to carry all the problems related to the adolescents' pregnancies. Guidelines have been recommended in order to facilitate the mothers to mobilise their resources for better health for all, namely: the mothers themselves, the pregnant adolescents and their expected babies. The recommendations include providing counselling sessions for the mothers, in order to empower them with information on reproductive health. The mothers are the primary caregivers in the homes, therefore need constant counselling sessions to help them to carry their loads, since special issues like adolescent pregnancy place an additional burden on them. Mothers and adolescents are encouraged to form support groups each, where they can learn life skills. Counselling seminars for the fathers have been recommended, so that they can support the mothers and the adolescents. Family life education should be established and strengthened in the homes and schools.