Development of a support program to reduce stigmatisation and marginalisation among teenage mothers in rural communities of Sekhukhune district, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Marginalisation and stigma among young mothers continue to be a challenge in South Africa, and they are generally overlooked. Young mothers face marginalisation at home from their parents and spouses, at school from their peers, and in the wider community. Such everyday exposure to judgement and branding causes severe stigma and emotional pain, impairing their capacity to achieve life aspirations that may be out of reach due to poor educational performance. The study's aim was to develop a support program to reduce stigmatisation and marginalisation among teenage mothers in rural communities of Sekhukhune district, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The research was carried out in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo Province. The study's target population was teenage mothers aged 17 to 19 in the rural villages of Sekhukhune. A total of 44 teenage mothers took part in the study. The study adopted participatory action research design. This study employed both purposive and snowball sampling. Data gathering methods included semi-structured face-to-face interviews, focus groups, and arts-based methods that were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. According to the study's findings, teenage mothers experienced emotional distress as a result of mockery and rejection, which led to psychological suffering, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and disengagement from health and educational resources. They were also treated as outcasts, rejected, isolated, discriminated against, and ignored by teachers and classmates. Findings of the study assisted the researcher to develop a support program suitable to assist stakeholders in working together to reduce stigma and discrimination among teenage mothers.