The psychosocial challenges of mothers of children with thalassemia: A qualitative study
نویسندگان
1 Maternal and Child Care Research Center, Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran,
2 Non‑Communicable Pediatric Disease Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
3 Chronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan, Iran
4 Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Modeling of Non‑Communicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Caring for the children suffering from thalassemia is a stressful experience withvarious aspects making the mothers face various challenges. Thus, the present study aimed to explainthe psychosocial challenges of mothers with thalassemia children based on their lived experience.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this qualitative study, which was conducted using thephenomenological method, 14 mothers with thalassemia children were selected from two thalassemiatreatment centers in Hamadan and Babol (Iran) in 2020 using the purposive sampling method. Datawere collected using in‑depth and semi‑structured interviews and were analyzed by van Manen’sphenomenological methodology.RESULTS: In the first stage of data analysis, 534 initial codes were extracted, which were reducedto 290 by comparison and integration. The primary themes turned into 24 secondary themesafter clustering. By comparing the secondary themes, three main themes (i.e., “psychologicaldistress,” “bodily burnout,” and “mothers’ need to empathy and support”) with 7 secondarythemes (i.e., “emotional exhaustion,” “mental strain,” “social stigma,” “acute psychosomatic reactions,”“long‑term psychosomatic consequences,” “expectation of family support,” and support needs outsidethe family) were extracted.CONCLUSION: The results indicated that mothers with thalassemia children experience severalchallenges in various aspects. Therefore, they require care interventions and psychosocial support.
