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YOUNG
MOTHERS - A Study of Young Single mothers in two Communities:
Commissioned by the Vincentian Partnership for Justice,
by Dr. Valerie Richardson.
Brenda Forde
This
report identifies the issue of young single mothers as a research
priority for the Millennium. The total number of births to teenagers
under 18 years In Ireland has increased over the last decade
from 610 in 1989 to 823 in 1999. One of the major concerns about
the number of teenage births is the consistent finding of an
increased risk of poverty and welfare dependency (McCashin1996;
Wilson 1999).
Among other sources, this report documented the experiences
and current situation of 31 single mothers under the age of
25 in two local areas. These mothers were all unmarried and
under 18 years of age when they had their first baby.
The
findings of this report showed, among others, that:
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The young women are concerned and caring about their children
and doing their best with the limited amount of resources.
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The importance of the enormous amount of ongoing support these
young women received from their families
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The majority of women received emotional support from the
fathers of their children during their pregnancy and immediately
after the birth. However over time this contact often failed
and while almost 40% of the women still had daily contact
with the fathers of the child a similar number had no contact
at all.
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The women felt that there was a lack of counselling and support
within the school system.
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Poverty was an issue for these mothers. All the women were
on One-Parent Family Payment with no reliance on maintenance
for the fathers of their children.
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The women seemed to find difficulties in obtaining clear information
on benefits and in particular on how to maximise employment
with social welfare benefits.
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Attitudes to contraception was casual and the sex education
limited. The ability of the women to link the fact of sexual
activity with the possibility of becoming pregnant was limited.
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The majority of the women had left school prior to their pregnancy.
However, a majority of these mothers hoped to return to education
and train for employment.
Here are some of the recommendations of this study.
They fall into three main areas:
1. Prevention
i) to encourage young women to remain in education at least
to completion of senior secondary level.
ii) A school counselling/social work service to be established
iii) A review of the sex education in schools
iv) Both young men and women should be given the opportunity
to discuss issues in relation to sexual relationship within
the context of the importance of relationships and long term
responsibilities.
v) Voluntary agencies should provide locally based women's health
services
2.
Support
i) Every effort should be made to house young mothers in areas
close to their families of origin.
ii) A centre and support groups for the families should be developed
particularly for the grandmothers.
iii) Support groups for young mothers should be established
to provide opportunities for socialising and also the opportunity
for parenting courses.
iv) Community Mothers Scheme to be expanded to target this group.
v) Voluntary and Statutory groups to open local facilities in
order to maximise use of services offered.
vi) One Parent Family Payment should be increased significantly
in real terms and efforts to obtain support from the fathers
should be encouraged.
vii) Support should be given to young fathers to maintain contact
with their children, where appropriate. The development of groups
for young fathers would be one way of supporting them.
3.
Future Initiatives
i) The introduction of Back to Education Initiatives as outlined
in the White Paper on Adult Education.
ii) That childcare provision be expanded and priority given
to the children of young single mothers who wish to avail of
education/employment opportunities.
iii) Localisation of services providing information around the
areas of Social Welfare particularly where there is a high
concentration of lone parents.
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