Coping with dual roles: a case of adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to examine adolescent student mothers in Tanzania’s secondary schools’ unique coping strategies. It intends to explore strategies adolescent student mothers use in coping with the challenges of managing motherhood concurrent with schooling in the context of Tanzania’s secondary schools. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a qualitative single-case study design, involving 35 adolescent student mothers and 5 class teachers selected through purposive sampling. Data collection methods included focus group discussions for adolescent student mothers and semi-structured interviews for class teachers, facilitating insights into their coping strategies, and the contextual factors guiding their choices of certain coping strategies. Thematic analysis ensured systematic analysis of the data. Findings The findings indicate that adolescent student mothers use coping strategies like relying on interpersonal support systems, skipping schooling for some days, bringing with them their children to school, getting into convenience marriages, involving in income-generating ventures, ignoring and relying on faith and spiritual support. Research limitations/implications This research will be beneficial to adolescent student mothers, parents and schools and will add a contribution to this field. However, the coping strategies identified were limited to a small sample from a selected region and schools, hence cannot be used for generalization to a larger population. Practical implications This research will assist policymakers in evaluating and reassessing the re-admission policy to create more conducive environments that suit adolescent student mothers’ situations. This will create a supportive environment that fosters the well-being of adolescent student mothers and their children. Social implications The findings of this paper will be useful in understanding the coping strategies employed by student mothers and how educational modifications can be implemented to suit adolescent student mothers’ situations. Originality/value The research was conducted after introducing the re-admission circular to primary and secondary schools in Tanzania, and the findings derived from it are original.