Family Functions during Adolescent Pregnancy: Cases Study

Adolescent pregnancy is an overlapping situation during the normal development period for individuals and families, potentially causing impact and crisis as adolescents are not prepared both physically and psychosocially. The impacts could be more severe if the family does not accept the situation, rendering their functions incomplete or flawed, particularly in terms of caring, coping, socialization, and behavioral control in the hope to promote normal health and parenthood for pregnant adolescents. However, previous studies and most healthcare services emphasized evaluation primarily on the physical and mental health of pregnant adolescents, with limited focus on family functions. This three-case study thus endeavored to grasp family functions among families with adolescent pregnancy; by evaluating the health conditions of families with adolescent pregnancy both intentional and unintentional pregnancy. The content analysis revealed family emphasized the provision of financial support, conducted limited expression of love and care, and found no direct socialization on good parenting, inappropriate coping methods, and health issues among pregnant adolescents and families. Therefore, nurses and health personnel should create effective interventions to support and promote family health as a whole system; during adolescent pregnancy, postpartum care, raising their children, including strengthening new family.