• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.186-194
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the pregnancy and childbirth experience of unmarried teenage mothers and to provide basic information of programmes to prevent unplanned pregnancies in unmarried teenage mothers. Methods: The participants of study were 7 unmarried teenage mothers who lived in shelters in D city, and whose ages ranged from 15 to 19 years. Data gathering through in-depth interviews, 3 to 5 times, was done from August 2002 to September 2003. Data were analyzed with Colaizzi's(1978) phenomenological methodology. Results: The implications of pregnancy and childbirth experience for unmarried teenage mothers were "Seem to live in hell", "Desire for a miscarriage", "Lethargy", "Feel maternity", "Feel unjustified", and "Change of sexual perception". Conclusion: These findings contribute to understanding the pregnancy and childbirth experience of unmarried teenage mothers and can be used as sexual education information to help unmarried teenage mothers to prevent further unplanned pregnancies.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.63-78
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to identify educational needs of institutionalized unmarried teenage mothers and difficulties of running social welfare facilities for them. To achieve this purpose of the study, structured interviews with 4 social workers are conducted. At first, social workers who were working with teenage mothers told the general characteristics of institutionalized teenage mothers. Secondly, they presented their ideas about teenage mothers' educational needs, especially for preventing their repeated pregnancy. Thirdly, they pleaded their own sorry situation for running facilities such as depending on volunteers too much, financial problems, and limitations for running systematic educational programs.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to understand the subjective experiences of institutionalized, unmarried teenage mothers. Through structured in-depth interviews, we have explored their feelings and values about pregnancies, sexual behaviors, contraception, babies, adoption, babies' fathers, and their own families. Ten unmarried teenage mothers, who residing in welfare facilities located in Seoul, Kyonggi, and Kangwon, were interviewed. It turned out that the teenage mothers we interviewed had given little to no thought about pregnancy and contraception at the time conception. They contradicted themselves on a number of points. Since most of the fathers denied their responsibilities, the mothers were angry with the babies's fathers. At the same time, they felt humiliated about having to inform the babies' fathers about their pregnancy. They felt simultaneously sorry and resentful toward their own parents. They cared about their babies, yet they regretted not having had an abortion. Listening to what these mothers say will help the professionals and researchers to explicate certain preconceptions and prejudice about them, and to improve policies and services for them.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2010

Purpose:In recent years, Korea has showed a steady increase in the frequency of teenage birth, while the overall birth rate has declined. As the teenage birth is known as a high risk pregnancy itself, we examined perinatal complications of teenage mothers and whose neonates in aspects of medical problem, and social status and support. Methods:We examined the perinatal characteristics of teenage mothers and whose babies, who were hospitalized at Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2004 to July 2009 using medical records retrospectively. Twenty-seven teenage mothers and their 28 babies were enrolled in this study. Results:Teenage mothers were all unmarried and showed high rates of preterm labor, maternal anemia, and unexpected delivery. Among them, 11 (40.7%) were from families that were separated. Eleven mothers (40.7%) did not have any antenatal care. There were high rates of prematurity and low birth weight (60.7% and 64.3%, respectively). The complication included: respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus and necrotizing enterocolitis. Fourteen babies (51.9%) were not going to be brought up by their biological parents. Conclusion:Teenage pregnancy had high rates of preterm labor and associated complications, often caused by the lack of proper antenatal care. Babies from unmarried mothers were likely to be adopted and this could be a social burden. Therefore, to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancy and births, sex education and social supports should be provided to all teenagers.