To combat the problems associated with the high adolescent birthrate, some junior and senior high schools are establishing creative programs in parenthood education. Some hospitals and health clinics are initiating specialized prenatal and postnatal services for the adolescent mother and her at-risk infant. You may initiate nontraditional programs in your own community.
Cincinnati General Hospital established an innovative program to help adolescent mothers become more effective parents. Weekly classes for the young mothers are held on normal development, well-infant care, the importance of infant stimulation, and nutritional and other health needs until their infants are approximately six months old. The mothers are helped to understand how their nurturing will help their babies to develop. Mothers are encouraged to respond to the infant`s vocal behavior and to behavioral indications of stress. They are taught to observe their infants as they investigate play materials so that the mother can select activities that interest instead of bore the baby. As the mothers talk to, play with, and enjoy their babies, the babies also become more responsive than previously. Instead of relying on lecture presentation, the course instructors demonstrate to the mothers as much as possible the apropriate caretaking behaviors. Mothers are then encouraged to repeat the behavior demonstrated by the class leader so that the behavior becomes a habit. The leaders then reinforce the mother`s behavior to her infant. As mothers begin asking questions about their babies, they become more attentive to the babies` needs.
Attendance has remained high. Mothers respond favorably to many tangibles offered in the program: transportation to and from classes, photos of their babies, toys, and consultation with the clinic nurse or pediatrician on request. The intangibles are also enjoyed and enhance acceptance of the program: the supportive interest of the staff, discussion with peers about mutual ploblems, and the camaraderie of the group. Mothers who complete the program are given high school credit for their increased knowledge in preventive health, and the mothers support one another to return to school and not become pregnant again. The Cincinnati program is a significant part in helping these adolescents become responsible parents and adults.
The adolescent mother who decides to keep her baby needs all the family and outside help she can get. She fears that whatever personal ambitions she has will be thwarted by the baby. Unmarried and unprepared for employment, she finds it almost impossible to make her own way in the world. Anger, frustation, and ignorance hamper her ability to attach to and appropriately care for the baby. Repeated pregnancies, child neglect and abuse, and welfare dependency often occur.
Shaw also describes the formation of a mother`s group, consisting of women of various ethnic origins in a lower-income bracket whose purpose was to provide parent education and support and foster talking about feelings. Hiemstra gives suggestions on how to educate parents to use community resources.
References :
Badger, E., Burns, and B. Rhoads, “Education for Adolescent Mothers in a Hospital Setting”, American Journal of Public Health, 66: No. 5, 1976.
Shaw, Nancy, “Teaching Young Mothers Their Role”, Nursing Outlook, 22: No.11, 1974.
Hiemstra, Roger, “Educating Parents in the Use of the Community”, Adult Leadership, 23, No.3, 1977.
Murray, RB and Zentner JP., Nursing Concepts for Health Promotion, Second Edtion, Prentice-Hall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs, N.J, 1979.
