Couple and family relationships of adolescents post-pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the perceptions of adolescent mothers with respect to family and conjugal relationships developed post-pregnancy. Methods: A cross sectional study of 202 adolescents, three months after admission into one of four maternity hospitals in Teresina-PI (Brazil) that were included in the study. Results: The majority of adolescents interviewed perceived positive changes in family (60.4%) and conjugal (50.5%) relationships post-pregnancy. We observed a statistical association between the father's desire for the newborn and the willingness to care for it (p <0.01), and between changes in conjugal relations and the parental support for the child care (p <0.01). Conclusions: Although the study has shown predominantly positive relationships between youth and their families and with a partner after pregnancy, it is expected that these results should guide health professionals so that they can stimulate an increase in bonding between the adolescent mother and people from their neighborhood during and after pregnancy.