An Educational Programme For Fascilitating Adolescent Motherhood In Oshana Region, Namibia

ABSTRACT

Adolescent motherhood is presented in the literature as today’s challenge both nationally and internationally. The World Health Organization (2007) also indicated the encountered problem on adolescent motherhood world-wide. Many countries documented the vicious sequence of early motherhood such as poverty and poor education. Accordingly, adolescent motherhood is regarded as a social health concern owing to its socioeconomic consequences, which affect the young mothers, their babies, their families and their communities at large.

As a developing country, Namibia is no exception to the problem of adolescent motherhood, high rate of early sexual activity prevails among adolescents, with consequently unwanted pregnancies and early motherhood. The increase in the births of babies to adolescent mothers is happening throughout the country. The adolescent pregnancy rate in Namibia is estimated to be 15.4%, with approximately one out of every five pregnant women being an early adolescent (Ministry of Health and Social Services, (MOHSS 2006/2007).

The reality is that when adolescents discover that they are pregnant and the realities and responsibilities of motherhood dawn on them, they tend to feel shocked, frightened, hopeless, angry and frustrated. They may even become depressed and feel that they have failed themselves, their families and society at large. Adolescent mothers seem to be thrown into an adult world with no preparation for being a parent. This may increase the risk of child neglect or maltreatment and a loving-caring relationship between baby and mother may never develop.

The following question arises: What needs to be done to assist and support adolescent mothers in the transition from adolescence to motherhood? Although the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in Oshana region is not the highest recorded in the country, it does contribute to the

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high percentage in the country.According to the reports from the 2006 birth registers of the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, a referral hospital in Oshana, there is an increased number of births from adolescents with the birth records indicating that 42% of the births that took place in January 2006 and 43% in August 2006 were from young adolescent mothers aged 15−17years.Thus, this study aimed atexploring and describing the experiences of adolescent mothers in the Oshana regionof Namibia as regards motherhood and developed an educational programme directed at preparing, assisting and supporting adolescent mothers during the period of motherhood. Adolescents should be able to manage their lives without back street abortions and baby dumping which usually occur when they don’t want to have babies.

A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research approach was followed to study the experiences of adolescent mothers in Oshana region of Namibia. The study draws on a thematic analysis following Tesch’s analysis process. The study was conducted in four phases. Phase I entailed a situational analysis which explored and described the adolescent mothers’ experiences of motherhood.

The results of the transcribed in-depth-interviews conducted indicated that adolescent mothers experienced the following: 1) 1) diversediverse feelings towards motherhood,2feelings towards motherhood,2) various challenges related to motherhood, 3) lack of effective interpersonal relationships with families and friends, 4) the burden of caring for and bringing up a baby, and 5) future ambitions for support and relationships.In Phase II a conceptual framework was developed,described according to the concepts in the survey list as suggested by Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968). Phase III was concerning the programme development and implementation and lastly Phase IV,the evaluation of the educational programme.

The overall insight obtained was that attaining motherhood prematurely has a severe impact on

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adolescent mothers’ lives, on their families and also on their communities. As a consequence, adolescent mothers are exposed to physical, social and psychological misery, dependency syndrome and socioeconomic hardships. However, an educational programme can be effective in assisting adolescent mothers to overcome the challenges experienced during motherhood. To conclude, the study accentuates the ongoing need for research on adolescent motherson challenges they are facing related to education andalso regard the experiences of the parents of adolescent mothers when they accept the care of their grandchildren while their mothers continue with their education.