Experiences Of Mothers Research Articles

Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Constipation and Its Management during Pregnancy among Antenatal Mothers in Selected Areas of Kamrup (M), Assam

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: During antenatal period, mothers experiences numerous physiological and psychological changes. Most of the antenatal mothers experience constipation during pregnancy. So it was found important to assess the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on Knowledge regarding Constipation and its Management during Pregnancy among Antenatal Mothers in selected areas of Kamrup (M), Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative research survey approach was adopted and pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test research design was used to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in selected areas of Kamrup (M), Assam. 90 antenatal mothers were selected using Multistage Simple Random sampling technique. The tools used for the study was structured self administered knowledge questionnaire. RESULTS: The study result shows that In post-test mean knowledge score i.e 17.11±1.951 was higher than pre-test mean knowledge score 12.47±2.381 with mean difference of 4.64 as evidenced by t=28.37 at 0.05 level of significance which reveals the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy. It also reveals that there was a significant association between the pre-test knowledge of antenatal mothers with their educational status. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that planned teaching program was effective in increasing the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy.

Adverse childhood experiences of Korean mothers with young children: a latent class analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have negative impacts on women with children, including psychosocial and general health problems. However, there is limited research investigating ACEs identifying the characteristics of distinct subgroups according to the frequency of ACEs. Objective: Utilizing the national dataset of the Family with Children Life Experience 2017, this study aimed to classify patterns of ACEs based on the total number of types of ACEs and the types of predominant events, and to examine differences in general and psychological characteristics, as well as experiences of violence in adulthood among the classes identified. Method: A total of 460 Korean mothers raising infants or toddlers participated. Latent class analysis was performed to classify the patterns of ACEs, while t-tests and Chi-square tests were used to examine differences in general and psychological characteristics and experiences of violence between the ACEs subgroups. Results: The participants were classified into two subgroups: the ‘high-ACEs group’ and the ‘low-ACEs group’. The high-ACEs group exhibited higher rates of child abuse, workplace violence perpetration and victimization, as well as lower self-esteem, higher depression levels, and increased suicidal thoughts compared to those of the low-ACEs group. Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant role of ACEs on the formation of an individual’s psychological characteristics and their propensity to experience additional violence even into adulthood, as perpetrators and as victims. It is noteworthy how the influence of ACEs extends across generations through child abuse. These findings offer insights for developing interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of experiences of violence on mothers raising young children.

‘It's just one step too far’: Negotiating physical activity for perinatal mental health

BackgroundPhysical activity is recommended as a self-help strategy for some mild to moderate perinatal mental illnesses. Despite this, we know very little about how women remain active, or take up physical activity, in the context of changing family life and perinatal mental illness. We seek to explore: a) how women negotiate physical activity for their mental health during transitions into parenthood and the early years; and b) the experiences of women with perinatal mental illness in relation to physical activity. MethodsAn anonymous UK-wide qualitative online survey was used to better understand how physical activity may be used for perinatal mental health, barriers to activity and changes over time. 186 women with babies and children up to four years completed the survey. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data and generate themes. ResultsThemes generated from this data were: 1) negotiating being active for perinatal mental health (the benefits and how these women remained active); 2) barriers to PA associated with mental illness (some women were active but still experienced general barriers to further PA, and there were several emotional barriers from mental illness); and 3) PA, guilt and the importance of valuing walking (guilt about not being active enough, guilt and feelings of failure exacerbated by questions about PA levels without support offered; regular walking not valued as PA exacerbating feelings of guilt). Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study provides new empirical data on the experiences of new mothers’, physical activity and mental health with important implications for physical activity messaging and support for women during this time through maternity care. Individualised conversations are important and the value of walking and incidental activity from activities that mothers and families find enjoyable should be promoted.

“I want my son to die before I do”: A phenomenological study on the views of mothers with disabled children about death after the 6 February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the experiences of mothers with disabled children directly affected by the 6 February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye regarding the concept of death in the context of social representations. The interpretive phenomenological analysis method, which is a qualitative research method, was used in the study. The content of semi-structured interviews held with 23 mothers was analyzed according to the analysis guidelines of Smith and Osborn. As a result of the analyses, four themes representing the views of the participants on the concept of death, which were “the perception of death, individual factors affecting the perception of death, environmental factors affecting the perception of death, and methods of coping with death anxiety,” as well as fifteen categories under these themes, were revealed. The results of this study present the experiences and needs of mothers with disabled children after the aforementioned earthquakes, their needs in this process, their views about death, and their coping resources within a cultural framework. According to the results, the existing needs and death anxiety of mothers with disabled children have become more prominent after the earthquakes.

‘I can’t take my eyes off her’ problems and difficulties experienced by mothers caring for their intellectually disabled children at home: a qualitative research

This qualitative study was conducted to learn the experiences of mothers who care for their children with intellectual disabilities at home about the problems and difficulties they experience. The study was conducted through in-depth interviews with 20 mothers who met the inclusion criteria in private and public special education rehabilitation centers in Zonguldak province between 1 January and 29 March 2024, in Türkiye. The content analysis method was used to analyze the data. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained from the interviews, six themes emerged. These themes are (1) the worn-out psychology of the mother, (2) socializing is too far for us!, (3) I am not enough for my children, (4) my child is at the center of my life, (5) my child’s difficult process, and (6) I am not alone. There were many problems and difficulties experienced by mothers caring for their intellectually disabled children at home. They had created their solutions for these. The mothers who participated in the study made all the materials they used in their home environment suitable for children. They had also taken safety precautions to prevent harm to children through objects. While most of the families suffered economically, not all of the mothers felt psychologically well. However, they did not neglect their priority towards their children. They overcame these problems with the support of family, friends or health personnel. Establishing health services and social programs that support mothers in terms of both psychological issues and home care opportunities will allow mothers to feel better.

A critical feminist study of mothers raising a child on the autism spectrum in Iran

This research explores the experiences of mothers raising autistic children in Iran through a critical feminist lens. We aimed to probe deeply not only into gender dynamics but also to explore how intersecting factors, including systemic issues, class, and social structure, interact to shape the challenges and experiences of these women. A reflective thematic analysis was conducted, involving a final participant group of 10 mothers. Upon analyzing the results, two prominent themes were constructed: the first theme, titled ‘In Interaction with the World Outside,’ focuses on the experiences of mothers as they interact with others and society. The second theme, named ‘In Interaction with the Self,’ explores the personal journeys and introspective experiences of mothers about themselves. Our findings illuminate the experiences of mothers who, despite being affected by systemic issues, social institutions, patriarchy, and gender inequality, actively challenge these forces and demonstrate their determination to secure the best possible future for their children. This highlights the urgent need for a more inclusive and supportive society that recognizes their agency, prioritizes gender equality, and empowers them to navigate the complexities of raising a child on the autism spectrum.

Chinese and Indian migrant mothers’ perceptions and experiences of utilising maternal and early childhood healthcare services in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative descriptive study

ABSTRACT Although the health system in Aotearoa New Zealand is based on universalism and equity, disparities exist in the uptake and quality of health care for ethnic-migrant mothers and their children. This qualitative descriptive study explored the perceptions and experiences of Chinese and Indian migrant mothers (N = 24) accessing maternal and early childhood healthcare services. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were generated. Migrant mothers displayed limited awareness of services available for themselves and their children, and experienced difficulties navigating the complex and fragmented health system. Transnational ties influenced mothers’ expectations of care and health seeking practices for themselves and their children. Mothers shared suggestions for a system that is inclusive of migrants’ needs, such as offering orientation sessions to raise awareness and ease navigation challenges, having interpreters available and translated resources to support language challenges, and improve postpartum support as mothers adapt to motherhood. To improve health equity, it is important that national policy supports improvements to the health system to address the challenges faced by ethnic-migrant families when navigating health services.

Maternal Ambivalence in Avni Doshi’s Burnt Sugar and Zehra Naqvi’s The Reluctant Mother

ABSTRACT This article examines the concept of maternal ambivalence in the Indian cultural milieu through a critical analysis of Avni Doshi’s Burnt Sugar and Zehra Naqvi’s The Reluctant Mother. These novels illustrate how societal glorification of maternal archetypes imposes significant emotional burdens on mothers who defy established norms, leading to inner conflicts laden with guilt, uncertainty, and the struggle to balance personal aspirations with societal expectations. We demonstrate how the novels subvert the entrenched heteropatriarchal order and advocate for a departure from rigid standards of what Andrea O’Reilly calls ‘patriarchal motherhood’. The article focuses on the mother–child relationship, which is characterised by ‘ambiguous intersubjectivity’ and ethical dilemmas linked to maternal discontent. We argue that a phenomenological exploration of maternal ambivalence, in conjunction with cultural norms, offers valuable insights into the complexities of maternal subjectivity and mirrors the conflicts within the maternal psyche. This approach grounds conceptions of gender and motherhood in lived experiences rather than normative ideals, providing a unique lens to examine social realities beyond individual literary works. We show how maternal ambivalence lies at the heart of the motherhood experience and how these narratives vindicate the individuality and autonomy of mothers.

Mothers' experiences of privacy in neonatal intensive care units: A qualitative study.

Examining the privacy experiences of mothers in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can play a crucial role in bolstering patient privacy safeguards and elevating the overall quality of health care. However, our understanding of mothers' experiences regarding privacy issues they may face after their infants' hospitalization in the NICU is limited. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of mothers concerning privacy within NICUs to contribute valuable insights for improving infant care and privacy protection. A qualitative content analysis using a conventional approach was conducted. A total of 18 participants, with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds, were interviewed using open-ended questions. Qualitative content analysis was undertaken for data analysis. The study was conducted in the NICU of an urban teaching hospital in Iran. The study identified four main themes: 'understanding of privacy', 'fluctuating respect for privacy', 'efforts to maintain privacy' and 'privacy barriers'. Participants viewed privacy as multidimensional, influenced by cultural and religious factors. Respect for privacy varied, with instances of both adherence and violation. Mothers employed strategies to preserve privacy, emphasizing the importance of their infants' privacy. Privacy barriers included hospital attire, the physical space of the NICU, inhomogeneous human resources and insufficient supervision and training. This study, the first of its kind in the NICU context, provides valuable insights into maternal experiences of privacy. Integrating these insights into practice and future research can contribute to creating more empathetic and privacy-respecting NICU environments. Health care providers can use these findings to enhance support for mothers, potentially reshaping physical spaces and communication practices within NICUs.

‘Let’s excuse abusive men from abusing and enable sexual abuse’: child sexual abuse investigations in England’s private family courts

ABSTRACT Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is an ongoing scourge upon society. There is minimal understanding of the experiences of mothers and children in private law family court proceedings (PLP), when CSA is reported. A qualitative study was conducted and a feminist-informed Foucauldian Discourse Analysis was applied to understand ten life-stories from within a larger sample of 45. Five themes are presented. CSA was overwhelmingly reported as being minimised, with harmful outcomes for children and mothers reported. Pro-father and ‘parental alienation’ narratives were a facilitator of severe harm and continued male violence to victim-survivor mothers and children. Further research into the scale and prevalence of CSA within PLP is urgently required.

Transition to Motherhood and Lived Experiences of Teenage Mothers Delivering in Kasese and Bundibugyo Districts, Western Uganda.

Introduction A large number of teenagers in low-resource settings experience pregnancy, with a significant number of these cases happening in sub-Saharan Africa. Teenage pregnancy is associated with unique physical and psychological experiences. Objective To explore the lived experiences of teenage mothers delivering at a tertiary referral hospital in southwestern Uganda. Methods This qualitative study used focus group discussions (FGDs) with teenage mothers in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts in Uganda. We purposively sampled 32 teenage mothers attending a tertiary referral hospital who had been pregnant at least once and had given birth. Sociodemographic information was obtained, and FGDs were conducted to capture the teenagers' experiences transitioning to motherhood. An inductive content analytic approach was used to analyze data. Results The mean age of the participants was 18.4 (standard deviation [SD], 1.2) years, with the majority (22, 68.8%) being rural dwellers, married (23, 71.9%), unemployed (21, 65.6%), and having attained primary education (23, 71.9%). Teenage mothers' lived experiences were characterized by shattered dreams, concerns about changes in their body size and shape, abandonment and neglect by family members and spouses, considerations of terminating the pregnancy, forced early marriages, family stereotypes, and engaging in sex for survival. The process of transitioning to motherhood occurred along with resilience post-pregnancy and supportive environments from their loved ones, which enabled them to accept reality and care for their children. Conclusions The lived experiences of teenage mothers demonstrated social pressures, fear of abandonment, and poverty as major influences on their mindset and behavior. Further research to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges encountered by teenage mothers will aid the development of culturally appropriate strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy and improve perinatal outcomes.

The story of staying out of normal routine life in adolescent mothers in marginal areas in Urmia through the Lenz of conventional content analysis approach

BackgroundAdolescent pregnancy is a main health concern in relation to adolescent mothers and their neonates especially in deprived areas. AimThis study aimed to explore the experiences of adolescent mothers who live in deprived marginal areas in Urmia in Iran. MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in 2022–2023 using the conventional content analysis approach. Participants were eighteen adolescent mothers purposefully selected from healthcare centers in marginal areas in Urmia. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews and were analyzed by the conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. Findings‘‘Staying out of the life normal routine’ was the main theme consisted of four categories ‘forced early marriage', 'experience of abuse', 'learned helplessness', and 'impulses of hope under the shadow of motherhood' and five sub-categories role conflict, lifelong regret, attachment, reviving the lost self-value and the delight of family establishment. ConclusionBased on the results of the study health care providers, especially midwives, will be oriented to deal with adolescent mothers to help them to have successful transition to motherhood.

Lived Experience of Student Teenage Mothers in Higher Learning Institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Drives, Challenges and Support Systems

This article explores the lived experiences of student teenage mothers in higher learning institutions in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It specifically analyses the factors behind their drive for higher education, the challenges they face, and the support systems available for them. Data were collected by interviewing a sample of twenty (20) student teenage mothers from The Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy (MNMA) and doing a documentary review. The data were analysed by using content analysis methods based on the Self-Determination Theory. The findings show that various factors drive student teenage mothers to carry on with their pursuit of career education, including empowerment and independence, improved career forecasts and networking, and social connection. However, they face several challenges which can be grouped into three namely: financial challenges, psychological challenges, and challenges related to balancing between academic and parenting duties. The article finally explains the support systems such as counseling and guidance, mentorship, childcare services, and community and peer support.

The Experiences of the Life of A Mother with A Developmentally Disabled Child: Parse's Human Becoming Research Method

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of mothers raising a child with developmental disabilities.Methods: The participants of this study were 9 mothers who had children with developmental disorders. Parse’s research method was used to analyze the experiences of these mothers.Results: The analysis revealed the following structure of their lived experiences: denial of the developmental disability diagnosis and the resulting pain from feelings of frustration, confusion, and guilt; a sense of hopelessness for the future and the emotional scars left by negative judgment; the pursuit of a happy future for their children; and finding new meaning in their children’s diagnoses.Conclusion: Despite the persistent pain and guilt experienced by these mothers, they can view their lives in a positive light by exploring the significance of their own experiences. These findings suggest that these mothers should recognize themselves as recipients of social support services and seek professional assistance in overcoming the various challenges associated with raising a child with developmental disabilities.

Effect of Prenatal Yoga On Back Pain and Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women: A Scoping Review

Throughout pregnancy, the expectant mother experiences physiological and psychological alterations. These modifications can significantly affect the mother's many pregnancy complications, including respiratory difficulties, lumbar discomfort, haemorrhoids, and sleep disruptions. Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is a musculoskeletal ailment that can negatively impact the overall well-being of pregnant women. Failure to promptly address the complaint might have detrimental effects on both the mother and the fetus. Objective: This scoping review seeks to examine the effects of prenatal yoga on the occurrence of back pain and the quality of sleep in pregnant women. Methods: This article conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA approach. Articles published in the last five years (2019-2023) were identified through various sources, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Journal SAGE, Scopus, Science Direct, and EBSCO. This search yielded ten relevant journals. Findings: Our examination revealed that engaging in prenatal yoga during pregnancy can help pregnant women reduce back pain and improve the quality of their sleep. Conclusion: prenatal yoga is a non-pharmacological therapeutic option for pregnant women to alleviate back discomfort and enhance sleep quality.

An experimental study to assess the effectiveness of video-assisted childbirth education programme on knowledge regarding childbirth among primigravida mothers attending antenatal out patient department of a selected hospital in Bhopal.

Childbirth is a normal physiological process in a woman's life, yet it is a life-changing experience for the primigravida mothers. Boosting confidence regarding pregnancy and childbirth by enhancing knowledge is an important component of care. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of the video-assisted childbirth education programme on the knowledge of the primigravida mothers regarding childbirth. A quantitative research approach with a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was adopted. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to select the 60 primigravida mothers who completed 34 weeks of gestation and are attending the Gynaec Outpatient Department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital in Bhopal. The self-structured knowledge questionnaire was developed. On the first day of contact with the sample, pretest was taken from both groups. A tailor-made video was administered to the experimental group on the same day. Posttest was taken on the seventh day from both groups. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) used to determine the effectiveness of video-assisted childbirth education programme revealed a significant interaction between the intervention and time, F (1,58) =29.398, P < .001. The mean difference in knowledge score over time was greater in the experimental group compared to the control group and the difference was statistically significant. The video-assisted childbirth education programme was effective in enhancing the knowledge of primigravida mothers regarding childbirth.

Augmenting Telepostpartum Care With Vision-Based Detection of Breastfeeding-Related Conditions: Algorithm Development and Validation.

Breastfeeding benefits both the mother and infant and is a topic of attention in public health. After childbirth, untreated medical conditions or lack of support lead many mothers to discontinue breastfeeding. For instance, nipple damage and mastitis affect 80% and 20% of US mothers, respectively. Lactation consultants (LCs) help mothers with breastfeeding, providing in-person, remote, and hybrid lactation support. LCs guide, encourage, and find ways for mothers to have a better experience breastfeeding. Current telehealth services help mothers seek LCs for breastfeeding support, where images help them identify and address many issues. Due to the disproportional ratio of LCs and mothers in need, these professionals are often overloaded and burned out. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of 5 distinct convolutional neural networks in detecting healthy lactating breasts and 6 breastfeeding-related issues by only using red, green, and blue images. Our goal was to assess the applicability of this algorithm as an auxiliary resource for LCs to identify painful breast conditions quickly, better manage their patients through triage, respond promptly to patient needs, and enhance the overall experience and care for breastfeeding mothers. We evaluated the potential for 5 classification models to detect breastfeeding-related conditions using 1078 breast and nipple images gathered from web-based and physical educational resources. We used the convolutional neural networks Resnet50, Visual Geometry Group model with 16 layers (VGG16), InceptionV3, EfficientNetV2, and DenseNet169 to classify the images across 7 classes: healthy, abscess, mastitis, nipple blebs, dermatosis, engorgement, and nipple damage by improper feeding or misuse of breast pumps. We also evaluated the models' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy images. We present an analysis of the classification challenges, identifying image traits that may confound the detection model. The best model achieves an average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93 for all conditions after data augmentation for multiclass classification. For binary classification, we achieved, with the best model, an average area under the curve of 0.96 for all conditions after data augmentation. Several factors contributed to the misclassification of images, including similar visual features in the conditions that precede other conditions (such as the mastitis spectrum disorder), partially covered breasts or nipples, and images depicting multiple conditions in the same breast. This vision-based automated detection technique offers an opportunity to enhance postpartum care for mothers and can potentially help alleviate the workload of LCs by expediting decision-making processes.

Mothers’ Experiences of Factors Affecting Their Sleep in the NICU: A Phenomenological Study

Background: The admission of an infant to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has the potential to increase the mother’s anxiety and stress. Mothers spend long hours and sometimes days nonstop at their infant’s bedside. The present study aimed to explore the lived experiences of mothers about the factors affecting their sleep in the NICU. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using directed content analysis on 16 mothers in the NICU at Fatemieh Hospital affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2023. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. The data in this study were collected through semi-structured interviews. The content of the interviews was recorded, transcribed, codified, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. Results: The analysis of the data revealed 168 primary codes, 19 subcategories, and 8 main categories. The main themes extracted from the mothers’ sleep experiences were individual factors (physical and psychological factors and adaptation to the conditions), environmental factors (physical, social, and economic factors), and occupation (daily activities and duties). Conclusion: Individual and environmental factors and employment are effective in the sleep of mothers in the NICU. These findings enhance our understanding of mothers’ sleep experiences and highlight the importance of addressing these factors in preventing and treating sleep disorders in mothers of newborns in research and clinical practice.

Navigating Multiple Burdens among Women in Government Service

This study investigates the lived experiences of government-employed mothers in Sabangan, Mountain Province, Philippines, who juggle work, family, and community roles without domestic help. Employing descriptive phenomenology and thematic analysis, the research examines the effects of these multiple burdens on nine participants from various government institutions. Findings highlight both positive outcomes, like happiness and fulfillment, and negative impacts, such as exhaustion and stress. The study reveals strategies these women use to mitigate adverse effects and suggests policy changes for better government support. Recommendations include extended parental leave, more holidays, reduced work hours, and accessible childcare. The study underscores the need for shared familial responsibilities and legislative backing to aid working mothers in managing their multifaceted roles.

Ideals and realities: Chinese singleton daughters negotiating family size preferences and migrant motherhood in Spain

ABSTRACT Chinese young women’s fertility choices have attracted growing interest in the last years, however, the effects of women’s singleton status and transnational motherhood experience on their fertility behaviours remain understudied. Using 12 qualitative interviews with Chinese migrant mothers in Spain, we firstly examine how women’s family size preferences are constructed by their singleton status associated with changing gender norms and strong normative expectations of future family caregiving obligations; secondly, we explore the challenges faced by participants towards realizing their fertility expectations in transnational spaces from a gendered perspective. We find that although singleton status can contribute to women’s larger ideal family size, their gendered roles as only-daughters and migrant mothers increase care responsibilities, which negatively influence their childbearing decisions. By situating singleton daughters’ experiences within a broader institutional and sociocultural context, our study offers a unique opportunity to examine how changing gender norms, care, and responsibility structure fertility norms of one generation at the micro level.