Reproductive Health
Volume 15, Issue 1, 2018

Adolescents' perceptions and experiences of pregnancy in refugee and migrant communities on the Thailand-Myanmar border: A qualitative study (Article) (Open Access)

Asnong C.* , Fellmeth G. , Plugge E. , Wai N.S. , Pimanpanarak M. , Paw M.K. , Charunwatthana P. , Nosten F. , McGready R.
  • a Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
  • b Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
  • c Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
  • d Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, 63110, Thailand
  • e Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, 63110, Thailand
  • f Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, 63110, Thailand
  • g Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
  • h Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom, Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, 63110, Thailand
  • i Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom, Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, 63110, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Adolescent pregnancy remains a global health concern, contributing to 11% of all births worldwide and 23% of the overall burden of disease in girls aged 15-19 years. Premature motherhood can create a negative cycle of adverse health, economic and social outcomes for young women, their babies and families. Refugee and migrant adolescent girls might be particularly at risk due to poverty, poor education and health infrastructure, early marriage, limited access to contraception and traditional beliefs. This study aims to explore adolescents' perceptions and experiences of pregnancy in refugee and migrant communities on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Methods: In June 2016 qualitative data were collected in one refugee camp and one migrant clinic along the Thailand-Myanmar border by conducting 20 individual interviews with pregnant refugee and migrant adolescents and 4 focus group discussions with husbands, adolescent boys and non-pregnant girls and antenatal clinic staff. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify codes and themes emerging from the data. Results: Study participants perceived adolescent pregnancy as a premature life event that could jeopardise their future. Important themes were premarital sex, forced marriage, lack of contraception, school dropout, fear of childbirth, financial insecurity, support structures and domestic violence. Supportive relationships with mothers, husbands and friends could turn this largely negative experience into a more positive one. The main underlying reasons for adolescent pregnancy were associated with traditional views and stigma on sexual and reproductive health issues, resulting in a knowledge gap on contraception and life skills necessary to negotiate sexual and reproductive choices, in particular for unmarried adolescents. Conclusions: Adolescents perceive pregnancy as a challenging life event that can be addressed by developing comprehensive adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services and education in refugee and migrant communities on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Creating a more tolerant and less stigmatising environment in these communities and their governing bodies will help to achieve this goal. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

forced marriage domestic violence Stigma Contraception migrant Adolescent pregnancy sexual and reproductive health Myanmar Refugee qualitative

Index Keywords

personal experience forced marriage perception refugee sexual behavior husband Thailand human Refugees school dropout fear of childbirth unplanned pregnancy qualitative research Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Adolescent Domestic Violence male female Contraception adolescent mother pregnancy Myanmar Pregnancy in Adolescence adolescent pregnancy sexual health Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice stigma Article peer group adult migration family relation Reproductive Health Transients and Migrants family planning medical staff attitude to health attitude to pregnancy finance paramedical personnel premarital sex
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047561210&doi=10.1186%2fs12978-018-0522-7&partnerID=40&md5=77c8eb9883e69cd25148c4d5724ceb21
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-018-0522-7
ISSN: 17424755
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English