“They Will be Mothers” : perceptions and practices of midwives towards adolescents with an unwanted pregnancy in Peru
Abstract: Pregnancy decisions are notably connected to maternal well-being, particularly for groups disproportionately affected by unplanned and unwanted pregnancies such as adolescents. Midwives are health professionals most likely to care for a pregnant adolescent in a public healthcare setting and spend the most time with her during her pregnancy. However, there are no studies in Peru of the perceptions and practices towards unwanted pregnancies from the perspective of midwives who can have a direct influence on the outcome of adolescent pregnancy. This thesis uses semi-structured interviews and an online survey to identify the perceptions and practices of midwives towards pregnant adolescents with a particular focus on unwanted pregnancy. By using Bourdieu’s ‘theory of practice’, this thesis uncovers some of the social structures and beliefs in the midwifery field that shape the practices of midwives. This qualitative study demonstrates how an adolescent’s desirability of her pregnancy impacts the perceptions and practices of midwives. Midwives in this study perceived the adolescent’s desirability of her pregnancy as ambivalent and fluid. Midwives would often support and encourage adolescents in accepting their pregnancy and motherhood. These perceptions and practices are influenced by a number of mechanisms explored in this study.
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