Getting it right for care experienced teenage parents
Creators: name: Kayes, Susan Patricia
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024

description: Background: Early parenthood is associated with increased adverse social and health outcomes for mother/baby compared to pregnancies or parenting at an older age. If young people have experience of being in care, they have an increased prevalence of becoming teenage parents. This study was conducted in two Health and Social Care Partnerships in Scotland. The aim of the study was to explore how care experienced teenage parents (CEP) are supported to reduce the challenges associated with both leaving care and becoming a teenage parent.Method:This research design included collective case studies (n=6) of care experienced mothers involved in the Family Nurse Partnership Programme. The study was conducted within two health and social care partnerships in Scotland. The cases included 6 CEP, 6 Family Nurse and 3 Significant Others. Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews with the case study participants (n=15). A focus group was then conducted with child and family social work staff (n=9) who were experienced in supporting teenage CEP, to gain a wider multidimensional perspective. Analysis: Analysis was conducted using a thematic analysis framework. Findings included three themes with associated sub themes: Trauma: Shadows of Childhood, Relationships: Networks and Transitions. Findings:The extent to which teenage CEP are supported was explored. Each CEP had experience of multiple chronic/complex childhood traumatic events which profoundly impacted their emotions, behaviours, poor coping strategies and quality of life. Related issues included experiencing sexual abuse and childhood neglect, feelings of shame and self-blame, numbing of feelings with triggers re-igniting negative memories and fear. These experiences impacted on the CEP’s mental health and increased risk-taking behaviours. Transitions through life events created major implications for the mothers to cope with, such as living with poverty and finding a suitable living environment. The relationships CEP had with individuals/groups impacted on their lives. Relationships with birth families could be complex due to historical issues of childhood sexual abuse and/or neglect. The CEP had low levels of social support. Multi-agency working sought to help the CEP to overcome some of the challenges they faced to keep them and their child safe. However, child protection processes for their own children complicated relationships with some professionals and a few of the situations were associated with deteriorating mental health, anxieties, fears and stigma in the CEP. Stigma, accessibility and acceptability of services, as well as the fear of being judged or scrutinised, prevented some CEP from engaging with resources that were there to help them. Despite the challenges faced, the CEP were motivated to parent well and shared plans for the future for themselves and their children. Recommendations: Based on the research findings, specific sexual health and relationships education and interventions are required to reduce the high incidence of unplanned teenage pregnancy and rapid repeat pregnancy. There is also a need to raise awareness and increase understanding of the experiences of care experienced teenage parents in relation to the impact on them of childhood-related trauma, their relationships, transition to parenthood, leaving care and potential homelessness and living in undesirable accommodation.