Authors: Mrs. Uwayisenga Lucie, Dr. Nadia Iradukunda
Abstract: With an emphasis on teenage moms of Berwa Kinunu, this study attempts to assess the association between paternity denial and the mental health of adolescent mothers in Rwanda. The researcher established clear goals: to examine how teen moms' mental health is affected by child abandonment. to evaluate how denying adolescent mothers financial help affects their mental health. to examine the effects on teenage moms' mental health of refusing moral support. To examine how relationship rejection affects adolescent mothers' mental health. The study's 154 respondents were chosen from the target population of 251 teen mothers, coordinators, and trainers of Berwa Kinunu using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including questionnaires and an interview guide. The study's descriptive research design used a mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative data, and the Cronbach's alpha test was used to evaluate the reliability of the research instrument. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 28 and included descriptive statistical analysis using mean and standard deviation. The results show the negative effects of moral support refusal on teenage mothers' mental health, as reported by the teen pregnancy, including persistent headaches and stomachaches, a prolonged sense of loneliness for the teen mother, failure to care for herself and her child, teen mother dropping out of school because of adolescent pregnancy, Teen mothers who get verbal discouragement experience disappointment and constant blaming, while those who receive judgment experience trauma, emotional suffering, and social isolation. According to the findings, teen moms should primarily turn to their peers or friends for help. Teens who are parents may receive training in peer education and counseling. According to this study, future investigations could concentrate on creating and approving particular screening instruments for detecting psychopathology in adolescent mothers. The long-term psychological effects on adolescent moms who become pregnant in rural Rwanda could potentially be investigated in future research.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17440968
