FEAR, FAITH AND FORTITUDE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS IN URBAN KENYA
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: This study explores the psychological challenges and coping strategies of pregnant adolescents attending antenatal care in an urban Kenyan setting. Adolescent pregnancy is associated with significant emotional distress, social stigma, and limited support, yet few studies have qualitatively examined how adolescents themselves experience and navigate these challenges in Kenya.
Methods: This interpretive phenomenological study was conducted at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Fifteen pregnant adolescents aged 13–19 years were purposively sampled and participated in in-depth interviews which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using Dedoose software. Rigorous strategies including member checking, reflexivity, and audit trails were employed to ensure trustworthiness and credibility.
Findings: Three major themes emerged: Emotional Struggles (anxiety about childbirth, emotional turmoil), Vulnerabilities (financial insecurity, knowledge gaps, social stigma, isolation), and Coping Strategies (spiritual practices, social support networks, personal resilience). Participants described layered emotional challenges amplified by poverty and social judgment but also demonstrated resourceful coping through faith, supportive relationships, and acceptance.
Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for midwifery practice to integrate adolescent-focused mental health support, foster respectful, stigma-free communication, and strengthen culturally sensitive, holistic care to improve psychological well-being and maternal outcomes for pregnant adolescents in urban Kenya.
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