Objectives: To: 1) describe and examine the associations between general communication (GC) and intention to initiate discussion about reproductive health (RH) issues within mother-daughter dyads; 2) describe mothers knowledge and attitudes of diabetes and RH and mothers perceived available social support; 3) identify variables associated with mothers intention to initiate discussion and actual discussion of RH issues with their daughters with type 1 diabetes; and, 4) explore mothers perspectives about RH discussions.
Design: This study of mothers used a sequential explanatory mixed method design. Phase 1, the quantitative study, utilized a repeated-measures (baseline, 3-month) correlational design as part of a larger randomized-controlled preconception counseling intervention study with diabetic adolescent girls. Mothers did not receive an intervention. Forty-four mothers participated; with a mean age of 45.3 years (SD=5.3, range 34-57.1) and 82% (n=36) were Caucasian. Phase 2, a qualitative descriptive study, used open-ended semi-structured telephone interviews with mothers. Ten mothers were selected by criterion-related purposeful sampling from the phase 1 sample. Qualitative content analysis techniques were used to analyze the qualitative data.
Results: Mothers reported high levels of GC and moderate levels of intention to initiate RH discussions with their daughters. Few (55%) reported having actual RH discussions. Mothers intention was significantly associated (r=.579, p<.05) with GC. Overall, mothers lacked knowledge about diabetes and RH, had strong attitudes and high perceived social support. There were significant (p<.05) time effects for mothers knowledge, perceived barriers to their daughter preventing an unplanned pregnancy, and actual RH discussion. Five themes regarding mothers perspectives of RH discussions were identified: 1) awareness 2) knowledge; 3) triggers for initiating discussions; 4) fears/concerns; and, 5) comfort level with discussions. Mothers were aware that their daughters should preplan pregnancies. They knew that an unplanned pregnancy may have detrimental maternal/fetal effects. A major trigger for initiating discussions was a steady boyfriend. Overall, mothers were not comfortable with RH discussions.
Conclusions: Mothers lacked knowledge about RH and only half of the mothers initiated RH discussions with their diabetic daughters. Mothers could benefit from an intervention that provides information about diabetes and RH, and guidance on communication skills.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-04022008-132730 |
| Date | 07 April 2008 |
| Creators | Hannan, Margaret Susan |
| Contributors | Susan M. Sereika, PhD, Linda Siminerio, PhD, Willa Doswell, PhD, Mary Beth Happ, PhD, Denise Charron-Prochownik, PhD |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04022008-132730/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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