Parenting After Stroke Among Women: A Secondary Data Analysis

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To describe demographics, financial status, participation in activities of daily living (ADLs), and mental health status of women with children post-stroke. <h3>Design</h3> A descriptive, secondary data analysis of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), years 2014 to 2018. Variables of financial status, activities of daily living, and mental health were selected based on their potential impact to participate in the occupation of parenting. <h3>Setting</h3> The Department of Health and Human Services monitors illness and disability of individuals living within the community in order to track and achieve larger health goals for the country via the NHIS. <h3>Participants</h3> The sample consisted of 377 women post-stroke ages 18 through 65 with children in their household. Participants identified as White (66%), African American (27%), or of Hispanic ethnicity (18.6%). Of the sample, 55% of participants reported having at least one child present in the home, 45% reported two or more children present, and 12% reported one child under the age of five. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> N/A. <h3>Results</h3> Thirty-five percent of the sample report living below poverty level, with 40% reporting health care coverage through Medicaid or other state sponsored plans. Participants indicated being worried about being able to pay medical bills (29%) and unable to pay medical bills (22%). Within the sample, 53% of participants reported activity limitations and indicated needing help with ADLs, and also had difficulty remembering and concentrating. Forty-eight percent of participants reported being worried, nervous, or anxious and 37% reported some level of depression. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Women post-stroke present with distinct challenges especially when acting as a primary caretaker for children in the home. Data suggests socioeconomic factors, difficulty with ADLs, and mental health concerns add complexity to rehabilitation for this population. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> Funding. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this work: This work was supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, NIDILRR grant number 90RTST0001, awarded to Kaitlin Dondorf-Brooks, Francine M. Seruya, and Rebecca C. Trenz.