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. 2025 Jun;27(6):782-797.
doi: 10.1080/13691058.2024.2403773. Epub 2024 Sep 20.

'I want to be a different kind of father': a qualitative analysis of adolescent fatherhood in Perú

Maria Luisa Jimenez Sanchez  1 , Paula Gamarra  1 , Jillian Brunner  2 , Helen A Williams  3 , Melissa LaNoire  4 , Yasmin V Barrios  5 , Victor O Cruz  6   7 , Marta B Rondon  6   8 , Bizu Gelaye  9   10   11 , Elizabeth J Levey  10   11
Affiliations

'I want to be a different kind of father': a qualitative analysis of adolescent fatherhood in Perú

Maria Luisa Jimenez Sanchez et al. Cult Health Sex. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Adolescent parents and their offspring experience worse health outcomes throughout the life course. While over 90% of adolescent births occur in low- and middle-income countries, data from many such countries are lacking, particularly from fathers. This qualitative study conducted in Lima, Peru characterises the experience of adolescent fathers and identifies potential intervention targets. Interviews with young fathers and the mothers of their children were coded and analysed using thematic analysis and a grounded theory approach. Factors impacting their experience included family support, changes in their relationship with their partner, gender dynamics, and financial pressure. The study identified family and couple conflict, gendered expectations, and the father's personal development as potential intervention targets. Further research is needed to develop interventions that effectively engage adolescent fathers in low- and middle-income countries such as Peru, and support their transition to fatherhood.

Keywords: Adolescent parenthood; Peru; fathers; machismo; qualitative.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors declare have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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