Parental Care for Unplanned Pregnant Adolescent Daughters: Multiple Case Studies

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy is a critical and global problem. In Thailand, the impact on parents includes feeling of shock, sadness, and shame. In addition, parents of adolescents with unplanned pregnancies are more likely to have high levels of relationship conflict, turmoil, and unhappiness. The family of a pregnant adolescent often takes on the responsibility of providing extra care during and after the pregnancy. The objective of this study was to describe parental care for unplanned pregnant adolescent daughters and to explain factors related to parental care. Descriptive qualitative study using multiple case studies were conducted 6 districts of one northeastern province of Thailand. The informants included 12 families with 57 informants, comprising 24 parents who were key informants and 33 general informants. The data were collected through interviews guiline, participant guiline, field notes, and photographs. Content analyses for qualitative data were used to analyze. The study found that parental care revealed three themes: (1) dealing with the situation of unplanned pregnancy, (2) giving close care to the daughter and her fetus, and (3) directing the pregnant daughter’s academic study and achievement for a better future. Nine factors related to the parental cares were identified as: (1) acceptance by their family members and the community, (2) parent’s childbirth experience, (3) involvement of the daughter’s boyfriend, (4) Buddhist beliefs, (5) grandparents beliefs, (6) doing work to more income, (7) country welfare, (8) modern communication technology, and (9) health care services. The findings are useful for nursing and midwifery practice, nursing education, further research, and policy in the study area to gain more knowledge to create appropriate strategies to promote quality of life of parents of unplanned adolescents and their daughters.