Integrating trauma- and violence-informed care in perinatal services to support adolescent mothers in low and middle-income countries: a call to action

Adolescent pregnancy is a significant global health issue, particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In these regions, adolescent pregnancy is often seen as deviant, irresponsible, and shameful behavior, impacting not just the young mother but her entire family and community. Consequently, adolescent mothers frequently face ostracization, stigma, and discrimination from their families and communities. Many also endure various forms of trauma and violence before and during pregnancy. These traumatic experiences disproportionately affect the mental health of adolescent mothers in LMICs, influencing their ability to access perinatal services and which can affect their physical health and well-being, as well as that of their unborn children. When systems, guidelines and healthcare providers in perinatal services are not supported to adopt trauma- and violence-informed care (TVIC) principles, they risk perpetuating or overlooking the trauma experienced by adolescent mothers. This paper emphasizes that the perinatal environment in LMICs often does not feel safe for either adolescent mothers or their healthcare providers, potentially leading to re-traumatization. Therefore, implementing TVIC can help create safer perinatal services for both adolescent mothers and their providers.