Psychological and Social Challenges Affecting Young Mothers, Aged 18–25, in a Selected Village under Collins Chabane Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Young mothers in rural South Africa often experience significant psychosocial challenges, which may adversely affect their overall well-being and the developmental outcomes of their children. In rural areas, located within the Collins Chabane Municipality District, factors such as - financial instability, limited access to quality healthcare, social stigma, and a lack of formal support systems - are particularly acute and have significant impact on young mothers. The aim of this study was to explore The Psychological and Social Challenges Faced by Young Mothers in a selected village in Collins Chabane Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study adopted a qualitative approach, using an exploratory research design to gain in-depth understanding of psychosocial challenges faced by young mothers. Semi-structured interviews served as the primary data collection method, enabling participants to express their perspectives openly, while allowing the researcher to probe specific issues related to their socio-economic status and mental health. The study employed a non-probability purposive sampling strategy to select 15-20 participants; initially, however, sampling continued until data saturation. All interviews were audio-recorded with participants’ consent and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed using thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach - Familiarization with Data, Generating Initial Codes, Searching for Themes, Reviewing Themes, Defining and Naming Themes, and Writing the Report. To ensure trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, strategies such as, prolonged engagement, detailed documentation, and the inclusion of participants' direct quotes were used. Ethical considerations, including informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation, were strictly observed throughout the study. The results revealed that young mothers experienced several psychosocial challenges, such as family rejection, absence of support from the partner, financial strain, community stigma, interrupted education, and emotional distress; however, supportive family systems and resilience in dealing with the demands of motherhood were reported by a few participants. Recommendations for improving the situation included strengthening family and community support systems, increasing access to youth-friendly healthcare and mental health services, encouraging and supporting fathers' responsible engagement, facilitating the continuation of education, and creating economic empowerment programmes to improve outcomes for young mothers and their children, according to the participants. From these findings, it was concluded that in rural communities, young motherhood is characterized by intertwined social, economic, and psychological difficulties, and that supportive family and community settings are crucial factors in enhancing young mothers’ well-being and coping capacity.