Apoio social à gravidez na adolescência: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Pregnancy in adolescence, as in any other stage of life, can be considered an event that will bring changes to the lives not only of the pregnant woman, but also of all those directly involved. Becoming a parent during adolescence can be frightening and challenging, but being able to count on social support can bring benefits. In this study, social support is established as an important factor in coping with crises and adapting to one's experiences, as well as being an integral element in health promotion. The aim of this study was to analyze social support for teenage pregnancy based on the existing literature. Method: This was an integrative literature review that took place between April and November 2023. On September 7, 2023, a search was carried out in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) using the following search strategy: "Adolescent Pregnancy" AND "Social Support". A total of 526 studies were found in the database. When the inclusion criteria were applied, 514 studies were excluded, leaving 12 articles eligible to be read in full. Of these, two studies were eliminated because they did not meet the inclusion criteria: one did not meet the objective and the other was unavailable in its entirety. Thus, the final sample consisted of 10 scientific articles which were read in full and included in this review. Results: the mother and the partner were the main sources of support for the adolescents. The support network appears to have a protective effect, fundamental for overcoming adversity and important in the process of becoming a mother. With the assistance and care she receives from the health service, the teenager can have her doubts answered and be able to fulfill her maternal role. Pregnancy and childbirth in adolescence brings with it a series of negative and/or positive feelings. And teenage pregnancy can represent a life project. Final considerations: In view of the proposed objective, this study revealed that the way in which pregnant adolescents experience social support will reflect on how they will deal with the challenges of adolescence itself, the many changes that come with this gestational period and the construction of the social role of becoming a mother.