Teen mothers’ experiences with youth-friendly health services in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Teenage mothers face significant challenges, including social stigma, a lack of support and inadequate healthcare services, which adversely affect their well-being and parenting capacities. These challenges are compounded by a lack of youth-friendly healthcare services tailored to their unique needs. Aim: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of teenage mothers regarding the youth-friendliness of support services in primary healthcare facilities in the Enoch Mgijima district in the Eastern Cape. Setting: The study was conducted in primary healthcare facilities in the Enoch Mgijima district, focusing on teenage mothers aged 10–19. Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 teenage mothers selected using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s reflective thematic analysis framework. Results: From the data, four main themes and ten subthemes were identified. The findings emphasise the need for more inclusive, confidential and accessible healthcare services tailored to the unique needs of teenage mothers, particularly those balancing school and caregiving or living in remote locations. Conclusion: Enhancing healthcare worker training, promoting comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, and tailoring services to meet the needs of teenage mothers are essential to improving health outcomes. Contribution: The study highlights gaps in youth-friendly healthcare services and proposes actionable recommendations to foster supportive, inclusive and accessible healthcare for teenage mothers in rural South Africa.