The Experiences and Psychological Challenges of Senior High School Adolescent Student Mothers in Jaman South Municipal, Ghana

Abstract

Adolescence pregnancy of students in second cycle schools in Ghana is on the ascendency. The study explored the experiences and psychological challenges of Senior High School adolescent student mothers and their coping strategies in the Jaman South Municipal in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana. The study employed a phenomenological design. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 15 adolescent student mothers for the study. Data were analysed using thematic and content analysis. The study revealed that psychological challenges of adolescent student mothers included humiliation and shame, stigmatization and ridicule as well as feeling of guilt. The study found that some adolescent student mothers adopted conscious avoidance of incisive remarks, vicarious experience as well as self-determination as coping strategies. It is recommended that Guidance and Counselling Units in high schools should liaise with school authorities to provide support systems that will enable adolescent mothers adjust and cope with academic work in school. Also, parents and significant others around these young mothers should support to enhance their adjustment processes in school and at home.