Stressors and Coping Strategies Employed by Post Cesarean Birth Mothers in North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: Childbirth is exciting, and a very joyful experience in women’s live. As much as its beauty, childbirth often bring about a lot of stress, which requires coping and adaptation for the mother; especially for mothers who undergo caesarean birth. Most importantly, whether or not the caesarean birth was successful, it however creates memories, sometimes bad experiences and unmet expectations difficult for post caesarean birth mothers (PCBM) to cope and in some cases may leave the mother with those memories for life. Thus, this study explored lived experiences related to stressors and coping strategies employed by PCBM in Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.Material and Methods: a phenomenological-hermeneutics research design, a sample of 19 PCBM who were able to consent for themselves were purposively included in the study and data collected through an in-depth face-to-face interview with a semi-structured interview guide. Three major themes emerged from the data analytic process.Results: Although, few PCBMs (five) sees caesarean birth as being scary, unwomanly and cause body image dissatisfaction; majority (ten) PCBM see the process as life saving for them and their baby which is the most important advantage of a caesarean birth. Hence, pregnant women should be prepared early for possibility of caesarean birth during antenatal periods and visits.Conclusion: Due to lack of physical accessibility to medical services which is an important barrier to maternal health care access; improving accessibility should be a focus of reforms.