Adolescent Father’s Needs, Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Fatherhood in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Case of Adonkia Community

The purpose of this study was to explore the needs, attitudes and beliefs of adolescent fathers in Freetown. Specifically, phenomenological methods were used to capture the essence of these teenage fathers' experiences related to their conceptualization and acceptance of fatherhood. Participants ranged from 16 to 19 years, the overall age distribution shows that participants are relatively spread across the age groups, but 17-year -olds dominate the sample. Their perspective adds to the current literature and helps other researchers and policymakers better understand the needs and perceptions of this marginalized group. The transformation process best describes the experiences of these teenage fathers. Fatherhood was described as a life- changing event as they overcame a range of negative behaviors and became actively involved fathers. Although the results cannot be generalized, the stories of these participants provide insight into this marginalized population. These participants defined fatherhood in traditional terms (i.e., the father as the primary breadwinner) and expressed enthusiasm for being actively involved in their children's daily lives. In addition, most said they are renewing their focus on improving education to ensure a better future for themselves and their children. Although participants received help from their families, there was no support from the educational system but they cannot support with their education due to the added burden created by these teenage fathers. There is a need for further research regarding the needs of teenage fathers. A longitudinal study with these participants is needed to explore how they enacted their concept of fatherhood and what barriers they encountered.