Abstract:
This study aimed to increase understanding of the context of teenage pregnancy by studying the problems in life and the expectation in life of pregnant teenagers. The research method was a qualitative by using in-depth interviews in 13 pregnant teenagers age 10-19 attending obstetrics and gynecology outpatients clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The data for the study were collected from October of 2017 to January of 2018. The result showed that pregnant teenagers were physically healthy. Some pregnant students struggled to tell their parents about the pregnancy because they fear that they would disappoint them. Pregnant workers were happy because they have stable income that can take care of themselves and the child. Pregnant students are being supported to continue the study while pregnant. For the pregnant workers, there was a social welfare so they can take 3 months of maternity leave with half pay and the budget of 13,000 THB for the delivery. 11 participants reported that they expect to continue their study after giving birth, all of them are more concerned of the importance of education that can lead them to have better financial status. For the social expectation, 7 of the 13 participants are content with their current social support however the rest of the participants need the following supports which are financial support for the babys expenses, support of training and knowledge of parenting skills and the financial support from social welfare to be given earlier without having to pay their own money. This result of this research showed that the pregnant teenagers in Thailand had better quality of life compare to the previous study because of the act for prevention and solution of the adolescent pregnancy problem of Thailand that helps pregnant teenagers to continue their study in schools and help to get social welfare from their workplace.