The experience of motherhood and methods of support for minors placed in the institution of social welfare

Ovaj rad bavi se problematikom maloljetnih trudnica i majki koje se nalaze na smještaju u odgovarajućoj instituciji socijalne skrbi. Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati kakav je doživljaj majčinstva maloljetnih majki te kakvi su im izvori podrške dostupni, a koji im još nedostaju. Također, ispitivalo se kako stručnjaci koji rade s maloljetnim majkama doživljavaju podršku koju majke dobivaju, te koja im još nedostaje. Rad se temelji na kvalitativnom istraživanju, a podaci su prikupljeni metodom fokus grupe u kojoj je sudjelovalo pet majki, a koja se provodila u instituciji gdje se majke nalaze na smještaju. Rezultati istraživanja govore da se maloljetne majke susreću s različitim teškoćama u obnašanju svoje roditeljske uloge, kao što su situacije kada je dijete bolesno ili kad dijete puno plače. Iako majke navode različite teškoće, rezultati pokazuju visok stupanj brige za djetetovu dobrobit. Kada je u pitanju podrška, rezultati pokazuju da izostaje podrška od strane vlastite obitelji. Općenito, neformalna socijalna podrška vrlo je slaba. Osim od majki, uvid u izvore podrške dobili smo i od strane stručnjaka koji rade s majkama. Rezultati pokazuju različite izvore formalne podrške koja je majkama na raspolaganju, dok neformalna socijalna podrška izostaje. Obzirom da se radi o majkama koje se nalaze na smještaju potrebno je i dalje razvijati programe podrške, te poticati razvijanje i međusobnu suradnju svih organizacija i institucija koje se bave problemom maloljetničkih trudnoća.This paper deals with the problem of underage pregnant women and mothers that are accommodated in special institutions through the social welfare system. The purpose of this study was to review what is the experience of teenage mothers that face early motherhood, what sources of support do they have and not have through the whole experience. This study also concentrates on the specialists and what is their perspective on the support that teenage mothers receive from the social system and what are they missing through the whole process. The paper is based on a qualitative research, in which all the necessary data was gathered by using a focus group which included five teenage mothers already accommodated in the appropriate social institution. The research results show that teenage mothers face a number of difficulties through the whole parental experience, such as situations where a child is sick or when a child cries a lot. Although the mothers mention various difficulties, the results show a high degree of concern for the child's well-being. When it comes to support, the results show that they are lacking support from their own families. In general the informal social support is very weak. Apart from the mothers themselves, we have gained access to sources of support from the experts who work with these mothers. The results show that the different sources of formal support to the mothers are at their disposal, while the informal social support is missing. Even though these are mothers who are already properly accommodated, it is still necessary to continue the development of programs which support and promote the cooperation of all organizations and institutions that deal with the problem of teenage pregnancies