This study explores and identifies the needs of North Shore
women during their postpartum period (0-3 months). In order to
compare the perspective of the service users and the professional
care givers, data were collected from three groups: new mothers,
community health nurses and hospital maternity nurses.
Discussions resulting from eight focus group interviews were
the primary source of information for this exploratory study.
Six groups of mothers, one group of community health nurses and
one group of hospital nurses participated in the focus group
discussions. The total number of participants were thirty-three
mothers, eight community health nurses and six hospital
nurses.
Content analysis of the qualitative data identified three
themes: 1) lack of knowledge, 2) role confusion and/or role
redefinition, and 3) lifestyle adjustments. Each theme was
examined within the context of three developmental time periods:
the first week, 1 week to 6 weeks, and 6 weeks to three months.
The data indicated that women were concerned with six tasks
during their postnatal period: breast-feeding, infant care,
maternal care, maintaining their spousal relationship, sibling
care and household care. The relationship of each task to each
theme was considered in each time period.
In addition to the themes and tasks identified, the focus
groups revealed that assistance and emotional support from
spouses, other family members and friends is one of the most
important components in the maternal recovery and adjustment
process.
The overall findings of the study indicate that during their
postnatal period the mothers needed information, support and
validation to assist them in adapting to their role as parents.
The results of this study have implications for health care
service providers, agencies and organizations providing services
and resources to women and their families, and for the family and
friends of new mothers.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/2902 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Erickson, Debra Lynn |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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