Teenage Mothers’ Resilience: Motherhood Experiences and Coping Strategies among First-Time Teenage Mothers in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of Ghana. A Phenomenological Study

Background First-time teenage mothers often face distinct psychosocial and emotional challenges compared to adult mothers. Unlike adult mothers who are mature enough to accept responsibility for their actions and are resilient to function independently, the same cannot be said of first-time teenage mothers. Lacking adequate support and resilience, they become more vulnerable to the demands of early motherhood. The study explored the motherhood experiences and coping strategies of first-time teenage mothers in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of Ghana. Methods This qualitative phenomenological study employed purposive sampling technique to select 30 first-time teenage mothers. A face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview data were managed using NVivo and thematically analysed. Results The findings revealed that teenage mothers’ sense of responsibility was influenced by the multifaceted challenges and complex realities of early motherhood. They reported experiencing emotional and maternal distress as well as feeling regret and neglected by baby fathers. These challenges often stemmed from limited psychological support, social stigma, and a lack of preparedness for parenting roles. Despite these challenges, they adopted various coping strategies (social, physical and religious), and sought support from family and peers as well as self-motivation. Conclusion Understanding the lived experiences of first-time teenage mothers in Ghana offers valuable insights for developing targeted interventions. These should include comprehensive adolescent sexual and reproductive health education, accessible family planning services, and the establishment of robust social support systems to ensure the well-being and long-term development of teenage mothers and their children.