Coping with dual roles: a case of adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools
Loading...
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Emerald Publishing Limited
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to examine adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools’ unique
coping strategies. It intends to explore strategies adolescent student mothers use in coping with the challenges of
managing motherhood concurrent with schooling in the context of Tanzania’s secondary schools.
Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a qualitative single-case study design, involving 35
adolescent student mothers and 5 class teachers selected through purposive sampling. Data collection methods
included focus group discussions for adolescent student mothers and semi-structured interviews for class
teachers, facilitating insights into their coping strategies, and the contextual factors guiding their choices of
certain coping strategies. Thematic analysis ensured systematic analysis of the data.
Findings – The findings indicate that adolescent student mothers use coping strategies like relying on
interpersonal support systems, skipping schooling for some days, bringing with them their children to school,
getting into convenience marriages, involving in income-generating ventures, ignoring and relying on faith and
spiritual support.
Research limitations/implications – This research will be beneficial to adolescent student mothers, parents and
schools and will add a contribution to this field. However, the coping strategies identified were limited to a small
sample from a selected region and schools, hence cannot be used for generalization to a larger population.
Practical implications – This research will assist policymakers in evaluating and reassessing the re-admission
policy to create more conducive environments that suit adolescent student mothers’ situations. This will create a
supportive environment that fosters the well-being of adolescent student mothers and their children.
Social implications – The findings of this paper will be useful in understanding the coping strategies employed
by student mothers and how educational modifications can be implemented to suit adolescent student mothers’
situations.
Originality/value – The research was conducted after introducing the re-admission circular to primary and
secondary schools in Tanzania, and the findings derived from it are original.
Description
Research paper
Keywords
Adolescent student mothers, Secondary schools, Coping strategies, Motherhood, Schooling
Citation
DOI 10.1108/AEDS-07-2024-0158