Social Support during pregnancy: A phenomenological exploration of young women’s experiences of support networks on pregnancy care and wellbeing in Soweto, South Africa

Abstract Social support is deemed to have a crucial influence on maternal health and wellbeing during pregnancy. The objective of the study was to explore the experiences of pregnant young females and their receipt of social support in Soweto, South Africa. An interpretive phenomenological approach was employed to understand and interpret pregnant young women’s lived experiences of support networks on their pregnancy care and wellbeing. Data was collected conducting 18 indepth interviews with young pregnant women. Analysis of the data resulted in the development of two superordinate themes: (1) relationships during pregnancy and (2) network involvement. Each superordinate theme was linked to subthemes that helped explain whether young women had positive or negative experiences of social support during their pregnancy care, and their wellbeing. The sub-themes emanating from the superordinate theme ‘relationships during pregnancy’ were (a) behavioural response of partner following disclosure of pregnancy, (b) behavioural response of family following disclosure of pregnancy, and (c) sense of emotional security. Accompanying subthemes of the superordinate theme ‘network involvement’ were (a) emotional and instrumental support, and (b) information support. An interpretation of the young women’s experiences has revealed that young women’s satisfaction with existing support networks and involvement of the various social networks contributed greatly to the participants having a greater sense of potential parental efficacy and increased acceptance of their pregnancies. Pregnant women who receive sufficient social support from immediate networks have increased potential to embrace and give attention to pregnancy-related changes. This could, in turn, foster positive behavioural outcomes that encourage engaging in good pregnancy care practices and acceptance of motherhood. Focusing on previously unexamined factors that could improve maternal health, such as social support, could improve maternal mortality rates and help achieve reproductive health accessibility universally.