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Those who become parents at a young age are more likely to have disadvantaged backgrounds such as growing up in low income families or to have experiences of being in care, which means they are more likely to face challenges as they become adults and parents. Despite the disadvantages many young parents face, they are neglected in UK policy, especially in relation to their experiences of the social security system where they receive lower levels of financial support from the state compared with older parents. This article draws on in-depth interview data at two points in time with nine young parents under the age of 25 claiming Universal Credit (drawn from a large sample of couples receiving Universal Credit). The findings show they faced extreme financial disadvantage, housing difficulties and problematic interactions with Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) staff and social services which impacted on their awareness and access to benefits. This article also explores the role of policy, poverty and power in influencing age related experiences of social security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research on young adult fathers has included a limited number of ecological studies of this population. The purpose of the present study was to address this void in the literature by exploring the paternal commitments of adolescent and young adult fathers. We hypothesized that a qualitative study of young fathers would reveal a rich understanding of their perspectives and experiences during the prenatal period through the first year of the child's life and the ecological issues that emerged during this period. We conducted initial interviews with 34 fathers ranging in age from 15 to 24 years old at the announcement of the pregnancy and again by the child's first birthday. The results of a content analysis of the interviews are presented within an ecosystemic framework, which illustrates how numerous factors converge to influence a young father's commitment to his child. Our findings indicate that, despite mixed reactions to the initial announcement of the pregnancy and numerous disadvantages in their lives, these young men generally showed a willingness to assume paternal responsibilities. The participants also revealed key issues associated with the mother of the child, living arrangements, the mother's family, the labor market, and social and health services. Implications of these findings for effective outreach, services for young fathers, and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines young women's experiences of early motherhood focusing on their aims and goals for the future. Young mothers face a particularly complex set of life circumstances by virtue of entering parenthood outside the normative age of motherhood and are likely to experience discrimination, stereotyping and economic disadvantage. We report data from a small-scale qualitative study designed to gather evidence about the experiences, goals and aspirations of young mothers. While the main programs supporting young mothers in Australia focus on education and employment support, we find that young mothers prioritise mothering and focus on the importance of providing full-time care to their children. We find evidence that parenthood is potentially a catalyst for transitioning to more rewarding employment, but this is a secondary goal after motherhood priorities. We also find evidence of active resistance to stereotyping and the challenges these women face as they navigate motherhood outside the standard normative age for this transition. Our findings highlight the need for longitudinal work that can provide evidence of journeys through motherhood, heterogeneity in outcomes, support programs that cater for changing needs and greater recognition of the value of unpaid mothering and care work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural inequities influence young parents' access to health care, housing, transportation, social support, education, and income. The current study adds to the extant literature by providing data directly obtained in collaboration with young parents to understand how structural violence affects the health and well-being of their families, ultimately resulting in community-driven policy recommendations developed in collaboration with the state health department. We engaged a diverse sample of young people—considered as community researchers in the project—including Black, Latinx, and/or LGBTQ+ pregnant and parenting young parents in a participatory action research (PAR) project in the spring of 2022 to explore their health and material needs while living in Springfield, Massachusetts. Together with young parents, we used participatory arts-based methods to conduct community and identity building, define research questions and photo prompts, conduct data collection (photos), engage in group thematic analysis, and take action at the state policy level. We also conducted individual semi-structured life-history interviews with the young parents. Participatory community-led findings indicate an urgent need for systemic change to increase access to safe and affordable housing; living-wage jobs; safe, high-quality, and affordable child care; and to bolster social support and disabilities services for young parents and their families. This participatory study funded by a state health department demonstrates that participatory community-driven data can have the power to mobilize community members and policy makers for social change if prioritized at the state and local levels. Additional practice-based implications include prioritizing participatory mentorship programs intended to aid young parents in navigating the complex systems that are vital to their survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young parents (defined as entering parenthood aged 25 and under) are often considered to be a homogenous population, yet this encompasses a broad age range. This article develops a critical analysis of ‘young’ parenthood based on empirical evidence from young parents themselves. Data is drawn from two connected qualitative longitudinal research studies about young parenthood spanning 8 years, focusing predominately on the UK, but also including empirical evidence from Sweden. The sample comprised young parents aged 18–25, a sub-group of ‘young’ parents that are often overlooked in policy and existing research about teenage pregnancy. The focus on young parents aged 18–25 troubles and deepens existing conceptualisations of ‘youth’ and of normative transitions to adulthood. The findings show that young parents conceptualised the timing of their entry into parenthood in relation to preparedness and the resources available to them within a context of elongated youth transitions. To this end, UK social policy would benefit from deprioritising youth policies constructed around young parenthood prevention as they serve to stigmatise and entrench socio-disadvantage. Instead, welfare systems have an important role to play in supporting young parents’ preparedness, to help them and their children to flourish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of parents' online safety concerns typically centre on information privacy and on worries over unknown third parties preying on children, whereas investigations into youth perspectives on online safety have found young people to focus on threats to safety or reputation by known individuals. The case of youth who are themselves parents raises questions regarding how these differing perspectives are negotiated by individuals who are in dual roles as youth and parents. Using interview and ethnographic observation data from the longitudinal Young Parent Study in British Columbia, Canada, this analysis investigates social media and online safety practices of 113 young parents. Online safety concerns of young parents in this study focused on personal safety, their children's online privacy and image management. These concerns reflect their dual roles, integrating youth image and information management concerns with parental concerns over the safety and information privacy of their own children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades growing attention has focused on the perceived challenge of adolescent pregnancy and the need for girls to make 'smart choices'. This has generated considerable debate particularly because of the failure of many programmes and interventions to consider the structural constraints faced by young women in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Yet limited attention has been given to the views and experiences of girls' parents and caregivers, many of whom were often adolescent parents themselves. We use data from the Real Choices, Real Lives longitudinal study conducted by Plan International to consider how the experiences of girls' families shape their attitudes to teenage pregnancy in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Many families believe girls need to practise abstinence and avoid men and boys but given the lack of provision for SRHR faced by young women this response is not unexpected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Perinatal healthcare professionals (PHCPs) provide essential support to all parents in the perinatal period, including young parents aged 16–24, who are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the provision of perinatal services, and on perinatal healthcare professionals, caring for young parents in the UK. Methods A UK based qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with perinatal healthcare professionals (n = 17). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Two themes were identified describing perinatal healthcare professionals’ perceptions of providing care to young parents during the pandemic. Perinatal healthcare professionals perceived that young parents’ needs were amplified by the pandemic and that pandemic-related changes to the service, such as the use of telemedicine to replace face-to-face interactions, did not manage to successfully mitigate the increased feelings of anxiety and isolation experienced by young parents. Concerns were raised by perinatal healthcare professionals that these changes reduced young parent’s access to vital support for themselves and their child and may contribute to exacerbating pre-existing inequalities. Conclusions This study provides insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of perinatal care to young parents. Perinatal mental health professionals felt these negative impacts could be overcome by using a blended approach of technology and face-to-face interactions allowing regular contact with young parents and facilitating the exchange of vital information, while maintaining access to opportunities for social interactions with other parents. Findings from this study could be used to future-proof services against further COVID-19 restrictions.

Abstract Young parents (aged 16–24 years) in the perinatal period are at an increased risk of poor mental health especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to multiple risk factors including social and economic instability. COVID-19 related restrictions had profound implications for the delivery of perinatal care services and other support structures for young parents. Investigating young parents’ experiences during the pandemic, including their perceived challenges and needs, is important to inform good practice and provide appropriate support for young parents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with young parents (n = 21) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom from February – May 2021. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three key themes were identified to describe parents’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents reported specific COVID-19 related anxieties and stressors, including worries around contracting the virus and increased feelings of distress due to uncertainty created by the implications of the pandemic. Parents described feeling alone both at home and during antenatal appointments and highlighted the absence of social support as a major area of concern. Parents also felt their perinatal care had been disrupted by the pandemic and experienced difficulties accessing care online or over the phone. This study highlights the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young parents, including their mental wellbeing and the perinatal support they were able to access. Insights from this study can inform the support and services offered to families going forward. Specifically, the findings emphasise the importance of (a) supporting both parents during perinatal appointments, (b) providing parents with mental health support early on and (c) finding ways to facilitate communication pathways between professionals and parents.

Abstract Background Early childbearing is a major concern especially in developing countries. This study sought to understand student‐parents’ perspectives of early childbearing, describe their individual experiences and identify the types of support required for such young parents. Methods This was an exploratory qualitative study with semi‐structured in‐depth interviews among 20 purposively selected participants. All the participants were young parent‐students at the University of KwaZulu‐Natal in Durban, South Africa. The interviews were conducted in 2018. Results The young parent‐students identified a lack of adequate information and knowledge about safe sex, contraceptive methods and prevention of pregnancies that led to early childbearing. The common misinformation that prevented the adoption of contraception methods were societal beliefs among men promoting early childbearing, coupled with the negative attitudes of healthcare workers in providing adequate information and reproductive health services. Both male and female parents suffered life‐changing consequences after early childbearing leading to financial burdens to support their new‐born and the interruption of their education. Government financial schemes and bursaries helped these young parents to financially support their new‐born, whereas family support in terms of taking care of the new‐born allowed them to continue with education. In addition, most participants identified having a child as a motivation for pursuing higher education. There is a need for Life Orientation programmes to be tailor‐made to provide adequate knowledge and sensitise the youth on appropriate life choices and access to contraceptives. Conclusion Early childbearing resulted from a lack of adequate knowledge on safe sex and contraceptive methods, poor access to contraceptives, the negative attitudes of healthcare workers in proving adequate sexual and reproductive health services to the youth. Schemes to financially support the young parents and support from family members were key to helping the young parents to continue with university education.

This paper explains why more attention should be paid to promoting the postsecondary education of parents in and aging out of foster care. It reviews what is known about postsecondary educational attainment among parents in or aging out of foster care and these parents' unique challenges to pursuing postsecondary education. The paper describes the Healthy Teen Network Young Parents Logic Model as a framework to think about the needs of parents in and aging out of foster care, including needs related to postsecondary educational attainment. The paper applies the Young Parents Logic Model and highlights strategies to increase postsecondary educational attainment among young parents in the general population and youth aging out of foster care which can also benefit young parents in foster care or aging out. Using the Young Parents Logic Model as a framework, the paper presents policy and practice recommendations to increase postsecondary educational attainment among young parents in and aging out of foster care and with directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on young mothers in foster care focuses on the risks associated with pregnancy and parenting among these youth, with less attention paid to the contexts in which they parent. This narrative study examines how young mothers' identities, parenting experiences, and parenting decisions are developed in several relational contexts. The analysis explores how relationships to self, to baby, to families of origin and friends, to their baby's father, and to the child welfare system shape the transition to motherhood for young mothers in foster care in Illinois. Findings are the result of narrative analysis of data from a total of 40 in-depth interviews with 29 young mothers (N = 29 first interviews; N = 11 s interviews). Young mothers' interpersonal relationships and child welfare system involvement both support and constrain their thriving as new mothers. This study makes a significant contribution to the research on pregnant and parenting youth in foster care, with major implications for trauma-informed child welfare practice, identifying appropriate resources and services for these young parents and their children, supporting both parent-child relationships and co-parenting relationships, and for future directions of scholarship on this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative research has long critiqued a simplistic association between youth parenting and poor outcomes. Despite this, the UK youth parenting policy continues to view young parents through a narrow deficit lens, focused on assumed risk rather than structural inequalities. The paper brings together the direct accounts of young parents' experiences, with ethnographic observation of practice, to argue that discrimination is the critical issue associated with being a young parent. This is then set within a wider critique of the policy framework which, it is argued, perpetuates and normalises negative ideas about young parents prevalent in political, societal and cultural processes. An integrative theoretical approach is used to highlight how a deficit lens at a policy level upholds, rather than undermines, young parents' intersectional experiences of discrimination and has ethical implications for practitioners working with them. The paper calls for a reorientation of policy which addresses and disrupts discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual function and satisfaction in couples decreases after childbirth. Often communication problems play a central role in persisting sexual dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual function of mothers of young children and to assess their partners' perception of their sexuality. This cohort study is a postal survey using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire for women who gave birth at least 3 to 4 years ago in a perinatal health care centre in Germany. Additionally, the male partner got a modified FSFI questionnaire for evaluation of their perception of females' sexuality. In all, 215 couples answered the questionnaire and were included in the study. The concordance of females' and males' answers was correlated with the females' sexual function. The prevalence of women with potential female sexual dysfunction (FSFI < 26.55) was 24.3%. Besides, men seemed to underestimate their female partners' sexual satisfaction. However, a good perception of men was associated with a good sexual function of women. Additionally, a child younger than three years was associated with a decreased sexual function in women and worse perception of men. This study helps to understand interactions between partners concerning females' sexuality in couples with young children. Health care professionals should inform young parents about possible changes in sexuality after childbirth and encourage them to talk to each other about their sexual concerns and wishes to improve sexual and partnership satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal healthcare professionals (PHCPs) provide essential support to all parents in the perinatal period, including young parents aged 16-24, who are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the provision of perinatal services, and on perinatal healthcare professionals, caring for young parents in the UK.Methods: A UK based qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with perinatal healthcare professionals (n = 17). Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Two themes were identified describing perinatal healthcare professionals' perceptions of providing care to young parents during the pandemic. Perinatal healthcare professionals perceived that young parents' needs were amplified by the pandemic and that pandemic-related changes to the service, such as the use of telemedicine to replace face-to-face interactions, did not manage to successfully mitigate the increased feelings of anxiety and isolation experienced by young parents. Concerns were raised by perinatal healthcare professionals that these changes reduced young parent's access to vital support for themselves and their child and may contribute to exacerbating pre-existing inequalities.Conclusions: This study provides insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of perinatal care to young parents. Perinatal mental health professionals felt these negative impacts could be overcome by using a blended approach of technology and face-to-face interactions allowing regular contact with young parents and facilitating the exchange of vital information, while maintaining access to opportunities for social interactions with other parents. Findings from this study could be used to future-proof services against further COVID-19 restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, the paper package leaflet (PPL) is the official document that is approved by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) for each medicine. PPLs of all medicines, including vaccines, are freely available online by accessing the AIFA website. To investigate people's attitudes toward possible access to the PPLs of vaccines and the acceptability of switching to an electronic package leaflet (e-leaflet) in the future, we surveyed three target groups (pregnant women, young parents, and older people) in Italy, via an online survey. We collected 321 questionnaires from the cohorts, which comprised 104 pregnant women, 105 young parents, and 112 older people. The results indicate in all target groups that health care professionals (HCPs) do not usually offer the vaccine PPL during the vaccination session: only about 10.7% of respondents receive the PPL without asking for it, with pregnant women receiving it the most frequently. The acceptance rate for switching from a PPL to an e-leaflet is fairly high in all target groups (76.9% in pregnant women, 81.9% in young parents, and 66.1% in the elderly), especially if the option exists to request a paper print, to make sure that people with a low level of digital skills can access the PPL information as well. HCPs have an important role in ensuring access to the PPLs of vaccines. HCPs should be trained to inform their patients about the different options for accessing the PPLs (as well as online access) to increase their patients' knowledge and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young parents (aged 16-24 years) in the perinatal period are at an increased risk of poor mental health especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to multiple risk factors including social and economic instability. COVID-19 related restrictions had profound implications for the delivery of perinatal care services and other support structures for young parents. Investigating young parents' experiences during the pandemic, including their perceived challenges and needs, is important to inform good practice and provide appropriate support for young parents.Qualitative interviews were conducted with young parents (n = 21) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom from February - May 2021. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Three key themes were identified to describe parents' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents reported specific COVID-19 related anxieties and stressors, including worries around contracting the virus and increased feelings of distress due to uncertainty created by the implications of the pandemic. Parents described feeling alone both at home and during antenatal appointments and highlighted the absence of social support as a major area of concern. Parents also felt their perinatal care had been disrupted by the pandemic and experienced difficulties accessing care online or over the phone.This study highlights the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young parents, including their mental wellbeing and the perinatal support they were able to access. Insights from this study can inform the support and services offered to families going forward. Specifically, the findings emphasise the importance of (a) supporting both parents during perinatal appointments, (b) providing parents with mental health support early on and (c) finding ways to facilitate communication pathways between professionals and parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perhatian terhadap persoalan yang dihadapi peserta didik sekolah dasar dengan orang tua tergolong pasangan muda masih rendah. Perlu adanya layanan khusus untuk menyikapi persoalan ini, mengingat peserta didik pada usia sekolah dasar masih dalam proses pembentukan karakter. Layanan care management merupakan layanan khusus dimana terjadi kolaborasi dan integrasi yang kompleks sehingga sesuai untuk mengatasi persoalan ini. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui persoalan dan pemicu peserta didik dengan orang tua tergolong pasangan muda serta layanan care management yang diberikan oleh SD Negeri Lowokwaru 3 Malang dan SD Negeri Lowokwari 4 Malang dalam mengatasi persoalan tersebut. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ialah kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian multisitus. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara, obervasi, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan jika pemicu persoalan disebabkan oleh keadaan pendidikan, ekonomi, dan emosi dari orang tua tergolong pasangan muda. Adanya pemicu ini menyebabkan adanya perkembangan yang berbeda dari peserta didik dilihat dari segi fisik, emosi, sosial, dan intelektual. Mengatasi persoalan ini sekolah menerapkan layanan care management dengan mempertimbangkan edukasi, care coordination, transition management, compliance, dan utilization management. Abstract The care of problems that happen to elementary school students with parents classified as young couples is still low. It is necessary to have a special service to broadcast this topic, considering that students in the early stages of school are still in the process of character building. Maintenance management services are specialized services where complex collaboration and integration occur in order to overcome this problem. The purpose of this study is to study the discussion and triggers of students with parents belonging to young couples and management services provided by SDN Lowokwaru 3 Malang and SDN Lowokwari 4 Malang in an effort to overcome these problems. The method used in this study is qualitative with a type of multi-site research. Data collection techniques carried out through interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed that there were triggers from education, economy, and transition from parents who were classified as young couples. The existence of these triggers causes a different development of students in terms of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual. Care Management, with consideration of education, care coordination, transition management, compliance, and utilization management.

The paper deals with resources available to young parents and the strategies they deploy as a response to various domain-related demands (housing, finance, work, family). First, the structural and cultural features of the social context in Serbia are discussed as the framework for the study. Secondly, the paper analyses young parents’ differences, by socioeconomic status (SES) and gender, regarding their resources, such as housing, finances, and employment, as well as their strategies. The analysis is based on a mixed-methods approach, which brings together the survey results of a sub-sample of 435 parents from a nationally representative survey of young adults aged 18 to 35, and a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 24 young mothers and fathers. The analyses indicate significant SES and gender differences in young parents’ resources and strategies, which are shaped by the structures and cultures of parenthood specific to the contemporary social context in Serbia.

Objective: To explore how young women with histories of maltreatment describe their experiences and decisions around infant feeding., Design: Secondary qualitative analysis using supplementary analysis., Setting: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; and their respective suburbs., Participants: Young women with histories of being abused or neglected as children or adolescents and who gave birth to one child before age 19 years (N = 9)., Methods: We collected data through in-depth semistructured interviews and analyzed them using reflexive thematic analysis., Results: The analysis resulted in three themes: Infant Feeding Intention, Identifying Challenges and Persistence, and Pivoting to What Is Feasible. Participants felt that breastfeeding was valuable and wanted to be able to breastfeed their children. They continued to provide human milk through painful latches and a lack of support and guidance, but formula became the only viable option for many of them., Conclusion: Despite wanting to breastfeed and continuing through barriers, many participants could not continue to breastfeed as long as they wanted because of a systemic lack of support. These findings indicate a need to support young women with histories of maltreatment through increased and consistent access to lactation support providers and trauma-informed care. Nurses and other clinicians are uniquely positioned to support young women with histories of maltreatment to overcome barriers related to breastfeeding., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors report no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships., (Copyright © 2024 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the effects of informativeness, entertainment and credibility of social media on the perceived value of advertising for Muslim millennial parents. It evaluates the impact of these variables on brand awareness and purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a mixed-method analysis with two stages. In the first stage, information from social media was collected. The second stage involved an online survey of 210 Muslim millennial parents. Structural equation modeling-partial least squares was used to test the study's prediction. Findings: The results showed that informativeness, entertainment and credibility of the message significantly influence Muslim millennial parents' perceived value of social media advertising. These aspects also have a significant effect on brand awareness and purchase intention. The parents appreciate entertainment most, followed by the informativeness and credibility of the message. Practical implications: This study offers new insights on Muslim millennial parents as a new segment in the market. Social media advertising is the most appropriate strategy for approaching this segment, and therefore, should be given much attention by marketers. The message created needs to be informative, entertaining and credible. It should consider culture, Islamic values and tradition. Originality/value: The study contributes to the evaluation of a new trend for Muslim millennials as young parents. The tendency to spend more time using social media as the primary source of information is evaluated. Additionally, this study gives marketers a better understanding of Muslim millennial parents, especially in a collective society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motherhood can bring joy and enrichment but may also be associated with stress leading to poor health outcomes and low life satisfaction. Young mothers are a group particularly at risk of adverse outcomes, including increased social, economic, and health disadvantage following early entry to motherhood. This article reports results from a mixed-method study examining variations in levels of social support reported by mothers. Cross-sectional analyses of survey data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children showed that young mothers (aged less than 25 years when their child was born) generally reported higher levels of social support, but poorer family relationships than older mothers. In-depth interviews with nine young mothers provided insights into how they perceived support under these circumstances. Our research shows that young mothers often experienced difficult childhoods and strained relationships with parents, but many reconnected with their mothers after pregnancy and saw them as important sources of support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe sociodemographic and family predictors for behavioural and emotional problems in pre‐schoolers. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study including 30,795 children in the Stockholm region whose parents had completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) prior to a routine visit to a well‐baby clinic at age 3 years. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse predictors for having a high total SDQ difficulties score. Results: Young parental age and a low level of parental education predicted high total SDQ score in a stepwise pattern. Being a first‐born child was associated with a high SDQ score with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.10 (95% C.I. 1.84–2.41), compared with having older siblings. A sole physical custody arrangement predicted a high total SDQ score after parental separation. The percentage of children with a high total SDQ score increased with the Care Need Index (CNI) of the well‐baby clinic. Conclusions: This study identified socioeconomic disadvantage and being the first‐born child as the main predictors of poor mental health at age 3 years. Well‐baby clinics with socioeconomically disadvantaged catchment areas should be provided with adequate resources and methods for equitable prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children of young and socially disadvantaged parents are more likely to experience adverse outcomes. In response to this, a unique young families' project in Swansea, UK, was created, which drew together a team of multi‐agency professionals, to support people aged 16–24 from 17 weeks of pregnancy throughout 1,001 days of the child's life. The aim of the JIGSO (the Welsh word for Jigsaw) project is for young people to reach their potential as parents and to break the cycle of health and social inequality. This evaluation analysed routinely collected data held by the project from January 2017 to December 2018 exploring health and social outcomes, including smoking and alcohol use in pregnancy, breastfeeding, maternal diet and social services outcomes. Outcomes were compared to local and national averages, where available. Data relating to parenting knowledge and skills were available via records of 10‐point Likert scales, one collected at the start of the JIGSO involvement and one around 4–6 months later. Findings showed higher than average levels of breastfeeding initiation and lower smoking and alcohol use in pregnancy. Parents also reported enhanced knowledge and confidence in their child care skills, as well as improved family relationships. Parents with high levels of engagement with JIGSO also appeared to have positive outcomes with Social Services (their child's name was removed from child protection register or their case was closed to social services). This was a post‐hoc evaluation, not an intervention study or trial, and thus findings must be interpreted with caution. Despite this, the findings are promising and more prospective research exploring similar services is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the screenwriting of Boonie Bears: To the Rescue (2014), a film version of the Chinese 3D animated adventure TV series, Boonie Bears. The child-oriented principle of storytelling is one of the most distinctive features of full-length Chinese animated films, especially those produced over the past decade. Within this context, Boonie Bears: To the Rescue epitomizes how Chinese animators are striving to expand the scope of their target audience from children to parent–child groups through the development of narrative competence. This article explores how the arrangement of narrative techniques helps to attract young parents (in their late 20s and early 30s) to cinemas while also retaining the child audience. These endeavours are primarily represented by the refiguration of Logger Vick, the main antagonist in the Boonie Bears animated TV series, who is transformed from a thoroughly wicked villain to a living, ordinary person who could be considered to be the 'spokesperson' for young Chinese adults. In this way, the screenwriting techniques in the film strike a responsive chord in the hearts of its adult viewers, thereby broadening the range of its original (TV series) target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is nine percent of women aged 15-19 who have married or living together in Indonesia, one percent of women divorced in the age group of 15-19 years. This scoping review aimed to review the evidence about the marital relationship among young couples in developing countries. Arksey and Malley framework was applied involving identifying relevant evidence; identifying review questions; identifying relevant evidence; study selection; charting data; and collating, summarizing and reporting the data. PRISMA flowchart is used to show the process of searching the literature. Results of the review showed that there were ten pieces of evidence included and processed within a review. These four themes emerged, i.e. marriage decision-makers for the young couple; changes in the marriage practice of young couples; unpreparedness pregnancy on a young couple; the perspective of young couples about marital relationship. The young married couple will face many environmental and social problems with the result that they must be able to adapt to deal with the stresses and pressures that arise in their family life.

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San Miguel Family Center in New South Wales, Australia, provides support in short-medium term housing for young homeless parents and their children, followed by post-exit outreach support of up to 36 months. The service was developed and is independently operated by the Australian Lasallian charity yourtown. San Miguel's holistic model of intensive long-term support aims to fill a key gap in the child protection system by simultaneously addressing homelessness, parenting, independent living skills, and child safety. Parents as young as 16 years, and their partners, come to the service with their children or during the last trimester of pregnancy. Many have grown up in out-of-home care, some have already lost children to state care and all are at risk of losing children to care. San Miguel facilitates parent–child reunification and prevents family breakdown where possible. In this case study narrative, we discuss the model in practice and outline key aspects of the service. We conclude by looking to the future, discussing key challenges, lessons learned, and tensions in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The New Mexico Graduation Reality and Dual-role Skills (GRADS) program provides services for expectant and parenting students at high schools. The GRADS program has operated since 1989, serving more than 17,000 youth. This study summarizes the GRADS program model and program administrators' lessons learned from implementing this comprehensive, large-scale program. Description: The GRADS program is a multicomponent intervention that can include a classroom intervention, case management, linkages to child care and health care, and support for young fathers. The program aims to support expectant and parenting youth in finishing high school, delaying a repeat pregnancy, promoting health outcomes for their children, and preparing for college and career. This study presents program administrators' lessons learned to increase understanding of how to implement a statewide program to support expectant and parenting students. Assessment: During the 2010–2017 school years, the GRADS program operated in 26–31 sites each year, serving a total of 2691 parenting youth. Program administrators identified lessons learned from implementing the GRADS program during that period of expansion, including allowing variation across sites based on resources and needs, providing centralized implementation support, fostering buy-in from school and district leaders, and collecting consistent data to better understand participant outcomes. Conclusions: Although not based on a rigorous impact or implementation study, this article provides lessons learned from a statewide, school-based program that may be a promising way to serve a large number of expectant and parenting youth and help them overcome challenges for completing high school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Expectant and parenting young people (young parents) need a range of supports but may have difficulty accessing existing resources. An optimally connected network of organizations can help young parents navigate access to available services. Community organizations participating in the Pathways to Success (Pathways) initiative sought to strengthen their network of support for young parents through social network analysis (SNA) undertaken within an action research framework. Method: Evaluators and community partners utilized a survey and analysis tool to map and describe the local network of service providers offering resources to young parents. Respondents were asked to characterize their relationship with all other organizations in the network. Following survey analysis, all participants were invited to discuss and interpret the results and plan the next actions to improve the network on behalf of young parents. Results: Scores described the diversity of organizations in the network, density of connections across the community, degree to which the network was centralized or decentralized, which organizations were central or outliers, frequency of contact, levels of collaboration, and levels of trust. Findings were interpreted with survey participants and used by Pathways staff for action planning to improve their network. Discussion: SNA clarified complex relationships and set service providers on a path toward optimizing their network. The usefulness of SNA to impact and improve a network approach to supporting young parents is discussed, including lessons learned from this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, federal programs had not explicitly focused on improving the outcomes of highly vulnerable teen parents. Established in 2010, the Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) aims to improve the health, social, educational, and economic outcomes for expectant and parenting teens and young adults, their children, and their families, through providing grants to states and tribes. This article introduces the Maternal and Child Health Journal supplement "Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens: The Pregnancy Assistance Fund," which draws together the perspectives of researchers and practitioners to provide insights into serving expectant and parenting teens through the PAF program. The articles in the supplement include examples of programs that use different intervention strategies to support teen parents, with programs based in high school, college, and community settings in both urban and rural locations. Some of the articles provide rigorous evidence of what works to support teen parents. In addition, the articles demonstrate key lessons learned from implementation, including allowing some flexibility in implementation while clearly outlining core programmatic components, using partnerships to meet the multifaceted needs of young parents, hiring the right staff and providing extensive training, using strategies for engaging and recruiting teen parents, and planning for sustainability early. The studies use a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate programs to support teen parents, and three articles describe how to implement innovative and cost effective methods to evaluate these kinds of programs. By summarizing findings across the supplement, we increase understanding of what is known about serving expectant and parenting teens and point to next steps for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Expectant and parenting young people (young parents) require diverse services to support their health, educational success, and family functioning. Rarely can the needs of young parents be met by a single school or service provider. This case study examines how one large school district funded through the pathways to success initiative was able to facilitate systems change to increase young parents' access to and use of supportive services. Methods: Data sources include a needs and resources assessment, quarterly reports documenting grantee effort, sustainability plans, social network analysis, and capstone interviews. All data sources were systematically reviewed to identify the existing context prior to the start of the initiative, the changes that resulted from the initiative, and efforts that could potentially be maintained beyond the grant period. Results: The community context prior to Pathways implementation was one of disconnected services and missed opportunities. The full-time program coordinator hired by the district focused on systems-level change and facilitated connections between organizations. This greater connectivity contributed to increased collaboration with the goal of producing lasting benefits for young parents. Discussion: Promoting sustainable connections and collaboration at the systems level can help dismantle barriers to service access and benefit young parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Support. Empower. Learn. Parenting Health Initiative (SELPHI) provides expectant and parenting youth ages 16–24 in Philadelphia with supports to improve educational, social, and economic outcomes to shape their health and the health of their children. Phone, text, video-based, and social media communication technology is built in to SELPHI's program design to facilitate case management and connect clients to a broad referral network. Given the novelty of using information and communication technology (ICT) in case management, the reported lessons learned seek to give providers a specific and nuanced picture of ICT in case management. Methods: In its initial 6-month implementation period, SELPHI's five case managers, called Navigators, served 59 clients. Data from feedback surveys and case records were collected from clients and Navigators. Data included client demographic characteristics, needs assessment, and contact records to inform continuous quality improvement (CQI). Results: ICT's benefits included having multiple ways to connect to difficult-to-reach clients, the ability to be more responsive to clients, and the flexibility to address scheduling and transportation barriers. ICT's challenges are related to Navigators' boundary setting, limitations on rapport building, and data security considerations. CQI data are presented to illustrate the lessons learned. Text messages were the most prevalent ICT; phone calls were most successful in engaging clients. Clients' ICT preferences differed by purpose of communication. Discussion: Findings suggest that programs should understand the nuances of client contact preferences. To maximize the benefits of ICT, programs must develop or adapt protocols based on preference and purpose of communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home visiting programs support new and expecting parents by strengthening parenting practices, improving parental and child health and well-being, and preventing child maltreatment. Participant retention is often a challenge for home visitation, particularly for young families, potentially reducing program impact. Father engagement in services may be one avenue for supporting continued program take-up for young parents. The current study examined associations between fathers' formal and informal participation in an infant home visiting program and mothers' take-up of home visits and whether these associations differed depending on mothers' relationship status at enrollment or timing of enrollment. Results showed that fathers' participation in home visiting supported maternal retention, particularly when fathers were formally enrolled. These associations depended on mothers' relationship status at enrollment but not on whether they enrolled pre- or postnatally. These findings have direct implications for home visiting programs, both in supporting maternal retention and in informing the recruitment and engagement of fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between exposure to childhood maltreatment and subsequent intimate partner violence (IPV) has been well documented. Recently, there has been increased attention to IPV in adolescence and young adulthood, with studies demonstrating that IPV peaks in young adulthood. Data were collected from a Danish national study conducted by The Danish National Centre for Social Research in 2008 and 2009. A sample of 4,718 young adults (aged 24) was randomly selected using the total birth cohort of children born in 1984. Structured interviews were conducted with 2,980 participants equating to a response rate of 63%. Childhood maltreatment including emotional, sexual, and multiple abuse experiences and being female and a young parent were used to test the association with experiencing IPV victimization. Bivariate associations showed that all variables were significantly associated with experiencing IPV. When the variables were entered into a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, being female indicated the strongest association (odds ratio [OR] = 13.96), followed by experiencing childhood sexual abuse (OR = 10.90) and experiencing multiple types of abuse (OR = 6.49). Results suggest that among the child maltreatment typologies, sexual abuse is the dominant factor associated with IPV. The current study extends the literature conducted on a young adult population by demonstrating that early adverse experiences and being female and a parent are associated with IPV in young adulthood. These findings suggest prevention programs should be targeted in early adolescence to support young people to establish and maintain positive and healthy relationships that promote safe conflict resolution strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MTV's hit reality shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom were produced with an agenda of preventing teen pregnancy. Researchers have examined their effectiveness as behavioral interventions, yet little attention has been paid to experiences of young parents themselves with these shows, nor to their ethical consequences, including the potential for compounding of stigma against young parents. This analysis qualitatively examines the experiences of young parents in British Columbia, Canada, with the media phenomenon referred to as 'Teen Mom shows.' Interview and observation data from a large, longitudinal, mixed-methods ethnographic study of young parents was analyzed using hybrid deductive-inductive qualitative content analysis. The dominant understanding was that Teen Mom depictions of young parenting were inaccurate and overly dramatic. Young mothers and fathers experienced stigma and judgement that directly or indirectly referred to Teen Mom portrayals of young mothers as immature, dramatic, and promiscuous, and young fathers as absentee parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundShaking and smothering in response to infant crying are forms of child abuse that often result in death. Unintended pregnancy and young motherhood are risk factors of such child maltreatment that are often comorbid, few studies have examined their synergistic effect on shaking and smothering of infants. We examined the synergistic effects of unintended pregnancy and young motherhood on shaking and smothering among caregivers of infants in Japan.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, a questionnaire was administered to caregivers enrolled for a health check for 3- to 4-month-old infants between October 2013 and February 2014 in Nagoya City, Japan. The questionnaire data were linked to those from pregnancy notification forms registered at municipalities and included information on women’s age and feelings about their pregnancy (N = 4,159). Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis in 2016.ResultsShaking and smothering of 3- to 4-month-old infants occurred at least once in the past month in 2.0 and 1.5% of cases, respectively. Of all participants, 24.8% reported unintended pregnancy while 7.3% were younger than 25 years old. Infants of young mothers (under 25 years old) with unintended pregnancy were 2.77 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–6.68] and 5.61 (95% CI: 2.40–13.1) times more likely to be shaken and smothered, respectively, than those of older mothers with intended pregnancy. In addition, the odds ratio of young mothers with unintended pregnancy regarding smothering was significantly higher than that of older mothers with unintended pregnancy (odds ratio: 2.12; p = 0.02).ConclusionOur findings suggest a synergistic effect of unintended pregnancy and young motherhood on smothering. Infants of young mothers with unintended pregnancy are at greater risk of abuse, especially smothering. Prevention strategies are required for young women with unintended pregnancies.