Like mother, like daughter: Exploring the mother-daughter relationships and intergenerational early pregnancies

Abstract

This qualitative study is a scientific investigation on the local contexts of intergenerational early pregnancy. It specifically looks into the relationships between mothers and daughters to uncover the underlying social realities that shape the phenomenon. Social Learning Theory is used to frame the study and to assist in the understanding of the mother-daughter relationships and intergenerational early pregnancy. To collect the data, this study used in-depth interviews of 5 motherdaughter dyads (N=10) from two provinces—North Cotabato and Antique. Following the interviews, the data was organized and analyzed using the approach Thematic Network Analysis. The results generated the 4 organizing themes with corresponding basic themes/subthemes: (1) lived experiences during early pregnancy with subthemes reactions to pregnancy, challenges experienced, coping mechanisms, and external support; (2) family dynamics with subthemes family status, physical and emotional distance, and parental monitoring; (3) mother-daughter communication with subthemes conversations, and sexual and reproductive health communication; and (4) daughter's sexual and reproductive health knowledge and behaviors with subthemes sources of SRH education, level of knowledge, and early sexual initiation. The study's findings suggest the need for parent-based or family-centered interventions regarding adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Early pregnancy becoming intergenerational among Filipino families further encourages the cycle of poverty.