BACKGROUND:
Pregnant adolescents often face tensions rooted in power and control discourses, intersecting with notions of health, autonomy, and rights. Adolescence is a key stage of identity construction shaped by daily experiences and meaningful relationships (Branje, 2022). In this context, prenatal care can become either a space for support or a site of obstetric violence. The latter is increasingly recognized as a form of gender-based violence that violates sexual and reproductive rights (Uruguay, 2017; IACHR, 2019).

OBJECTIVES:
To explore the experiences of pregnant adolescents regarding professional treatment during prenatal consultations in the First Level of Care (PNA) of Uruguay’s National Integrated Health System.

METHODS:
This exploratory qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 12 adolescents aged 15 to 19, in their second to fourth postpartum month. All participants provided informed consent. They received care from midwives, gynecologists, family doctors, and other health professionals working in PNA teams. Thematic analysis was conducted using an inductive approach.

RESULTS:
The findings show ambivalent experiences. While the adolescents recognized the importance of professional support, they also reported episodes of misinformation, infantilization, and disrespect, revealing institutional obstetric violence. They highlighted the need for clear, empathetic communication, respectful gynecological examinations, and greater sensitivity among healthcare providers. Adult-centered practices and the lack of adolescent-specific prenatal services emerged as significant barriers to access and care continuity.

CONCLUSIONS:
These results underscore the urgency of promoting respectful obstetric care centered on adolescent users, with tailored training for health professionals and the incorporation of prenatal consultations into adolescent-friendly services.

KEY MESSAGE:
Listening to pregnant adolescents helps reveal relational barriers in prenatal care and encourages transformation toward more humanized and respectful practices within the First Level of Care. Spanish - other (including three-minute presentation competition)