Clinical Research Coordinator UMass Chan Medical School Miami Beach, Florida
Abstract: Adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries is associated with urgent health and socioeconomic challenges for perinatal adolescents, infants, and communities. Recognition of this has led to increased research on the socioeconomic risk factors for adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries, including income, educational level, and access to family planning resources. However, few studies have explored the role of stigma in adolescent conception and perinatal experiences. The aim of this presentation is to explore the sexual stigma faced by adolescent mothers in Lima, Peru and its effects on their paths to motherhood. The data for this presentation was isolated from a broader project to inform a local perinatal mental health intervention for adolescent mothers and their families in Lima. Face-to-face in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adolescent mothers who received care between 2018 and 2019 at Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal (INMP), Peru’s primary public perinatal care facility serving low-income, publicly insured women. Interview recordings were reviewed after each session to conduct subsequent interviews until theoretical saturation was reached. Adolescent mothers revealed that sexual stigma limited their access to education, isolated them from their peers, emotionally and physically distanced them from family members, lowered their self-esteem, and limited their access to healthcare. Peru’s conservative socio-political context presents barriers to reducing stigma by implementing comprehensive sexual education in schools. Understanding how sexual stigma restricts access to information, social support, and healthcare can inform culturally appropriate strategies to promote the health of perinatal adolescents, their infants, and their communities.
After participating in this conference, attendees should be able to:
At the end of this session, attendees will be able to conceptualize sexual stigma as a contributing factor to high rates of adolescent pregnancy.
At the end of this session, attendees will be able to describe ways in which stigma may contribute to adverse health outcomes in perinatal adolescents and their children.
At the end of this session, attendees will be able to give examples of socio-political barriers to reducing sexual stigma in Peru.
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