UNWED MOTHERS

Unwed mother is the lady who has become pregnant without legal
justification of physical intimacy between man and women.
In the traditional societies like India the physical relationship before
marriage or becoming mother before marriage is considered as a sin.
Therefore the result of such women in the traditional societies is very
bad.
CAUSES OF UNWED MOTHER
POVERTY
The foundation of unwed mother lies somewhere in poverty. It is well
known that very unfortunate parents due to their poverty sell their
daughter. The reality of this statement is well established by
newspaper and news telecast on T.V. Many of these girls end result
is unwed mother.
Prostitution
Prostitute is an individual who for sake of some reward engage in
illegal sexual act with various individuals either of same or opposite
sex. The tragedy of these prostitutes is also being unwed mother.
Teenage mistake
Many teenage girls due to inefficient decision making make a mistake
that make them an unfortunate mother unwed mother.
Improper sex education
Due to lack or improper sex education among teenager and
adolescent the unwanted pregnancy is a emerging issue.
Contraceptive failure
Contraceptive failure can also be a reason of unwed mother. If sexual
relationship before marriage is made but used contraceptives does
not work then it result in a unwanted pregnancy making the lady an
unwed mother.
Consequences of being unwed mother
Consequences for mother
Being mother before marriage, a mother has to face great
consequences like unwed mother is not socially acceptable in our
traditional societies. In traditional society it is believed as a curse,
therefore it brings a lot of personal disorganisation in womem who
become unwed mother as she lack support from family, relatives,
society which make her living quite hard.
Consequences for family
The darkness of being unwed mother not only remain to mother but
her family also has to face it.The society boycott the family of unwed
mother and family loose their relationship with the society which leads
to isolation and hence result in psychological trauma on family.
Economic problems
As unwed mother lacks support from family and society,therefore she
faces great economic problems.]
Health problems
Both mother and child are at great risk of serious health problems.
This may be due to lack of support(emotional, nutritional)both to
mother and baby, unsafe delivery practices(which are usually
conducted at unhygienic places to hide unwanted pregnancy from
society)or due to improper guidance for rearing of child.
Support system available to unwed mother
Support system to unwed mother is more available in western
societies than traditional one. For past few decades the government
provides free food, free medical support system, jobs to earn income,
proper education facilities to unwed mother's child.
Legal rights of unwed mother
Establish paternity
Unwed mother has a right to the raise the case in court to establish
paternity for her child against men who she is expected that he is
father of her child.
Support to child
Once paternity is established, the mother can demand the support
from father to raise her child.The support can be in form of money or
in some other form.
Custody of child
Even if paternity is established still the mother has right to undertake
the custody of her child if she want it.
PREVENTION
Peer education
Peer education should be implanted to provide education to those
who are not able to go school. Education regarding sexual and
reproductive health can be provided to them by forming a group of
peers.
Sex education
Well designed and well implemented sexual and reproductive health
education can be provided to young people, so that they can engage
in a safe and responsible sexual behavior.
Supply of contraceptives
Goverment has made easy access to contraceptives, therefore
should take benefit of it and must take necessary steps to prevent the
occurance of unwed mother.
Aboilation of prostitution
Prositution mostly result in unwed mother. So in order to prevent this
the prostitution should be banned or prostitute should be informed
about the use of contraceptives.
Role Of Nurse
As Educator
Nurse should play a vital role in providing sex education to youngster
to prevent occurrence of unwed mother. Nurse can provide
knowledge to youngster about the evil effect of being unwed mother.
As An advocator
As an advocator, she can advocates the rights of unwed mother and
can protect her from further exploitation. She must inform the mother
about her legal rights which are provided by government to them so
that mother can take benefit of them.
As A Helper
As a helper, she can help the mother to raise her child in the society.
Nurse must provide free services to the mothers which are provided
by goverment agencies to help them.
As A Researcher
As a researcher, she should make research in the best preventive
measure to avoid the occurrence of unwed mother.

BY:
JASMINE KAUR (Nursing Student)
KHALSA COLLEGE OF NURSING,
AMRITSAR, Punjab, India