Adolescents' narratives of coping with unintended pregnancy in Nairobi's informal settlements

This study explored adolescent experiences and coping strategies for unintended pregnancy in two informal settlements-Viwandani and Korogocho-in Nairobi, Kenya. Forty-nine in-depth-interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted with male and female adolescents aged 15-19 years from hous...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2020-10, Vol.15 (10), p.e0240797-e0240797
Main Authors: Mumah, Joyce N, Mulupi, Stephen, Wado, Yohannes D, Ushie, Boniface A, Nai, Deladem, Kabiru, Caroline W, Izugbara, Chimaraoke O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Abortion, Induced
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adolescents
Aggression
Childbirth & labor
Contraceptive Agents
Contraceptives
Coping (Psychology)
Education
Educational attainment
Extracurricular activities
Female
Focus Groups
Ghettos
Girls clubs
Health risks
Households
Humans
Income inequality
Kenya
Low income groups
Male
Medical research
Methods
Population
Poverty
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Unplanned - psychology
Psychological aspects
Public health
Reproductive health
Sex Offenses - psychology
Sexual assault
Sexual behavior
Social aspects
Socioeconomic factors
Teenage boys
Teenage girls
Teenage pregnancy
Teenagers
Unwanted pregnancy
Violence
Womens health
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:This study explored adolescent experiences and coping strategies for unintended pregnancy in two informal settlements-Viwandani and Korogocho-in Nairobi, Kenya. Forty-nine in-depth-interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted with male and female adolescents aged 15-19 years from households in two informal settlements. Participants were purposively selected to include adolescents of varying socio-demographic characteristics, including the married and unmarried, and adolescents who had never/ever been pregnant. Data were transcribed, translated verbatim and analyzed thematically. Adolescents attributed unintended pregnancy to poverty, sexual violence and inconsistent contraceptive use. Lack of parental support and guidance, as well as household conflicts also exposed girls to early sexual debut and risky sexual behavior. Decisions about pregnancy management centered on carrying the pregnancy to term or terminating it. Deciding to terminate a pregnancy was not always straightforward and was motivated by concerns about stigma or shame, and school disruption. Participants reiterated that carrying an unintended pregnancy to term disrupts adolescents' schooling, with few girls returning to school after childbirth. Upon deciding to carry a pregnancy to term, adolescents used several coping strategies such as relocating from usual residence, hiding until delivery and planning to put up the child for adoption upon delivery. Early interventions to provide adolescents with comprehensive pregnancy prevention information and to address sexual violence and poverty can prevent unintended pregnancy in adolescents. Efforts to support adolescents to positively cope with unintended pregnancy and facilitate re-entry to school are also warranted.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0240797