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’ percep- tions of the pregnant teens arriving at the health centres – either who wanted to become mothers or to interrupt pregnancy – analysing health workers’ reflec- tions on their experiences of caring for these teens during pregnancy in the Ital- ian 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 subthe- mes 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 preg- nant teenagers.
Olivari, M. G., Confalonieri, E., Ionio, C., Italian psychologists’ and midwives’ perceptions of the pregnant teen: a qualitative study, <<JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT PSYCHOLOGY>>, 2011; 29 (4): 343-353. [doi:10.1080/02646838.2011.631180] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/7031]
Italian psychologists’ and midwives’ perceptions of the pregnant teen: a qualitative study
Olivari, Maria Giulia;Confalonieri, Emanuela;Ionio, Chiara
2011
Abstract
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’ percep- tions of the pregnant teens arriving at the health centres – either who wanted to become mothers or to interrupt pregnancy – analysing health workers’ reflec- tions on their experiences of caring for these teens during pregnancy in the Ital- ian 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 subthe- mes 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 preg- nant teenagers.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.