Being Healthy: Voices of Adolescent Women Who Are Parenting

PURPOSE. The purpose of this ethnography was to explore how adolescent women who are parenting describe what “being healthy” means to them and how they define their health needs. METHODS. In addition to traditional ethnographic methods of interviewing and participant observation, photovoice was utilized. RESULTS. Women's definitions of “being healthy” were grouped into three categories: (1) “taking care of my body,” (2) “not being stressed out,” and (3) “having what you need.” PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. The findings of this research study suggest that healthcare professionals should consider adolescent mothers knowledgeable actors of their own lives and move beyond current strategies to concentrate on issues, such as socioeconomic contexts, that hinder the health and nutrition of these young women.