Although sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest rates of early pregnancy, there is little awareness of pregnancy and parenting among young people in out-of-home care in this region. Therefore, this study looked into the experiences of pregnancy and parenting among young women who had been in residential care in Ghana and Uganda. We gathered data from ten parenting care leavers in both countries using semi-structured interviews and then analyzed the data from the interviews thematically. The study’s findings revealed that the young mothers had minimal sexual and reproductive health education, as well as a lack of sufficient monitoring, which predisposed them to early pregnancy. The young mothers indicated that emotional stress, financial and employment obstacles, as well as stigma, were some challenges they had experienced. They used personal motivation and spirituality as coping mechanisms to deal with their challenges. Training caregivers to deliver sexual and reproductive health information, having practitioners who will offer supervision during the semi-independent phase of leaving care, and providing separate housing for young mothers are some implications for practice emerging from the study. Policy implications include the need for social inclusion programs to support the academic, vocational, and parenting skills of young mothers who leave care.

尽管撒哈拉以南非洲地区的早孕率是世界上最高的，但该地区接受户外护理的年轻人对怀孕和养育子女的意识却很少。因此，本研究调查了在加纳和乌干达接受住院护理的年轻女性的怀孕和育儿经历。我们使用半结构化访谈收集了两国 10 名育儿护理毕业生的数据，然后对访谈数据进行了专题分析。研究结果显示，年轻母亲接受的性和生殖健康教育很少，而且缺乏足够的监测，这使她们容易早孕。年轻的母亲们表示，情绪压力、经济和就业障碍以及污名是她们经历过的一些挑战。他们使用个人动机和灵性作为应对机制来应对挑战。培训护理人员以提供性和生殖健康信息，让从业人员在离开护理的半独立阶段提供监督，并为年轻母亲提供单独的住房，这些都是对研究中出现的实践的一些影响。政策影响包括需要社会包容计划来支持离开护理的年轻母亲的学业、职业和育儿技能。为年轻母亲提供单独的住房对研究中的实践产生了一些影响。政策影响包括需要社会包容计划来支持离开护理的年轻母亲的学业、职业和育儿技能。为年轻母亲提供单独的住房对研究中的实践产生了一些影响。政策影响包括需要社会包容计划来支持离开护理的年轻母亲的学业、职业和育儿技能。