Mothers' perspectives about reproductive health discussions with adolescent daughters with diabetes

The purpose of this study is to explore mothers' perspectives about reproductive health (RH) discussions with their adolescent daughters with diabetes.

This study of mothers used a sequential explanatory mixed-method design with 2 phases. Phase 2, the focus of this report, was a qualitative descriptive study using open-ended semistructured telephone interviews. Ten mothers from a larger study sample were selected by purposeful sampling. Qualitative content analysis techniques were used to analyze the interview transcripts.

The following 4 themes describing mothers' perspectives about RH discussions with their adolescent daughters with diabetes were identified: (1) maternal awareness, (2) maternal knowledge, (3) triggers for initiating RH discussions, and (4) maternal fears/concerns. Several mothers were aware of their daughters' sexual activity and were aware that their daughters should preplan a pregnancy. They knew that an unplanned pregnancy may have detrimental effects on their daughters' health and feared that their daughters would have an unplanned pregnancy. A major trigger for mothers to initiate RH discussions was when a daughter had a steady boyfriend. Mothers' fears and concerns were focused around their daughters' having an unplanned pregnancy. Overall, mothers reported they were not comfortable with RH conversations.

Mothers fear unplanned pregnancies for their daughters with diabetes and want to discuss RH issues with them but are uncomfortable doing so. Diabetes educators could be instrumental in educating and providing communication skills to mothers to help foster RH communication with their adolescent daughters with diabetes.