ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the context of caring for pregnant and parenting adolescents and its relevance to decision-making in midwifery care. It focuses on the enhance understanding around the global context of adolescent pregnancy and parenting, examines the challenges commonly faced by midwives when providing care to this often vulnerable group and explains ways in which this knowledge can enhance care decisions. In high-income countries, problems also exist for adolescents accessing maternity care despite widespread government-funded maternity service availability. Conversely, midwives in low- or middle-income countries may find legal and professional guidelines difficult to apply, particularly in countries where early marriage between young adolescent girls and mature-aged men is culturally accepted. Midwives worldwide need to consider innovative and culturally appropriate ways to reach out to and engage pregnant and parenting adolescents. Like all pregnant women, pregnant and parenting adolescents must be assisted in making informed decisions about their care.
