Social Support and Wellbeing of Adolescent Mothers in Ibadan Urban Slum

Oloruntomiwa Oyetunde, University of Ibadan
Mofeyisara Omobowale, Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan,

Motherhood in adolescence makes young girls vulnerable to poverty and exclusion, and has ripple effects on her children, her community and nation. However, availability and accessibility of social support buffers these challenges.There exists a data dearth on availability of social support and wellbeing of adolescent mothers in the familial Ibadan Urban slum where adolescent motherhood remains prevalent. Through a three-stage sampling approach, 401 adolescent mothers participated. Perceived social support (PSS) scale and psychological wellbeing(PW) scale were adapted and deployed, both were 5-point scales,ethical approval was duly obtained. Univariables,bivariables and mulitvariables were generated Mean age 17.59±1.33 ,less than two-fifth completed high school, close to three-quarters of adolescent mothers lived with their partners,more than half had an income, monthly income ranged from 1.15USD to 35USD Monthly(1USD=850Naira).Significant other social support 14.06±2.81 ranked highest while friend social support ranked least. Adolescent mothers scored highest in autonomy (3.42±0.812)?and positive relations with others (3.41±0.724). PSS was statistically associated with wellbeing Adolescent mothers accessed support from families and partners, however,there were variances in the domains of wellbeing, the quality of support available for adolescent mothers was deficient for holistic wellbeing. Interventions are needed to increase support mechanism for young mothers’ resilience and well-being.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Fertility, Families, Unions and Households, Neighbourhood/contextual effect analysis

See extended abstract.