Teenage Parents' Experiences of Parenthood and Views of Family Support Services in Kent - Service Users Report, Postnatal. Executive Summary

This document reports on the second part of a study exploring the views and experiences of teenage parents across Kent. The young people had been interviewed during the third trimester of the pregnancy and were interviewed again approximately one year after the birth of their child. The research was conducted as part of a larger study into teenagers’ views and experiences of sex and relationships education, sexual health services and family support services in the county. The research was commissioned and funded by the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership.

The contribution made by this study is to offer insights into the lived experience of Kent teenagers, both female and male, as they deal with becoming parents. By asking them to reflect upon their early experiences of parenthood it is possible to capture both the diversity in circumstances and experiences and to identify areas of commonality that may be of use in the improvement of service provision. Services and professionals can also benefit from the specific insights gained into the way they are experienced by users.