Childbearing through the Lens of Women with Minor Thalassemia: A Qualitative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v8i.1429Keywords:
Thalassemia, Pregnancy, Qualitative Research, IranAbstract
Background: It is essential to provide key information and support to every woman regarding pregnancy and childbirth to enable all women to make a fully informed decision regarding their choice to reproduce. Of particular importance; however, is that women who suffer from a specific condition that increases risks associated with reproduction, to receive specific information regarding such risks and health complications regarding pregnancy and childbirth. This study aims to explore the feelings, experiences, and needs of women with minor thalassemia in relation to childbearing. Materials and Methods: This sample comprised of 12 Iranian women with minor thalassemia who attended to local health centers in Minudasht, Golestan province, from October 2017 to January 2018. The purposeful sampling technique was employed. The data were collected through deep semi-structured interviews, analyzed using conventional content analysis and processed by using the Graneheim and Lundman method. Results: The findings were based on the participants’ experiences of pregnancy and fertility. Three major themes emerged; ‘Emotional and Physical Experience,’ ‘Satisfaction’ and ‘Social and Cultural Issues.’ The most common problem identified was the impact of emotional problems and difficulties regarding the negative implications of thalassemia on reproduction as well as the views and perceptions of family members and those within the community. Conclusion: From the findings, it is evident that thalassemia imposes a heavy psychosocial burden on those women who suffer from the condition. Local health centers in areas most affected by thalassemia would be considered the most suitable venues to introduce key health educational interventions. [GMJ.2019;8:e1429]Â
References
http://www.who.int/genomics/public/geneticdiseases/en/index2.htmlVichinsky E.P,2005. Changing patterns of thalassemia worldwide. Ann N Y AcadSci; 1054: 18-24. Yazdi Khadijeh, Sanagou Avakrm, Joybari Layla,2007. Problems and their coping with them in families of patients with thalassemia in Golestan province. Journal of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences ; volume 9:71-75 Abolghasemi H, Amid A, Zeinali S, et al.2007. Thalassemia in Iran: Epidemiology, Prevention, and Management. J PedHematolOncol; 29: 333-338. Bernard Davis,2014.Fertility and pregnancy in thalassaemia and sickle cell disease.The UK guidelines. Thalassemia Reports; volume 4:4874 Alexis A. Thompson, Hae-Young Kim, Sylvia T. Singer, et al,2013. Thalassemia Clinical Research Network.Pregnancy outcomes in women with thalassemia in North America and the United Kingdom.Am. J. Hematol. 88:771–773, 2013. Eyal Sheiner, MD, Amalia Levy, PhD, RonitYerushalmi, MD, and Miriam Katz, MD,2004. Beta-Thalassemia Minor During Pregnancy.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, VOL. 103, NO. 6, JUNE Tharangrut Hanprasertpong , OunjaiKor-anantakul ,RoengsakLeetanaporn, et al,2013. Pregnancy outcomes amongst thalassemia traits. Arch GynecolObstet ( 288:1051–1054 SedighehAmooee , Alamtaj Samsami1, JamilehJahanbakhsh, MehranKarimi.2011 The pregnancy outcome in patients with minor β- thalassemia.Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine Vol. 9.No. 1.pp: 9-14, Winter http://dx.doi.org/10.6018/eglobal.13.2Rodrigues, D., de Araujo, P., &F_atima, I. (2013). Gestantesportadoras de HIV/AIDS: Aspectospsicol_ogicossobre a prevenc ¸~ao da transmiss~ao vertical. [HIV/AIDS pregnant women: Psychological aspects about the prevention of vertical transmission]. Estudos de Psicolog_ıa, 18(3), 419-427. Mayer B, Trommsdorff G,2010. Adolescents' value of children and their intentions to have children: a cross-cultural and multilevel analysis. J Cross Cult Psychol;41(5-6):671-89. DOI: 10.1177/0022022110372195. Ntozi JP,1990. The desire for children in tropical Africa: the influence of relatives on fertility decisions in Ankole, Uganda. J Biosoc Sci Oct;22(4):433-46. Siegenthaler AL, Bigner JJ,2000. The value of children to lesbian and non-lesbian mothers. J Homosex;39(2):73-91. Levandowski BA, Kalilani-Phiri L, Kachale F, Awah P, Kangaude G, Mhango C,2012. Investigating social consequences of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion in Malawi: the role of stigma. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. Sep;118 Suppl 2: S167-71. Glenn EN, Chang G, Forcey LR,1994. Mothering: Ideology, Experience, and Agency. New York, NY: Routledge:387. Morgan, Ph. Bachrach, C.A., 2011. Is the Theory of Planned Behaviour an appropriate model for human fertility? Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 9. Pp. 11-18. Shenaz Ahmed, LouiseD,2013.Bryant, Phyllis Cole. Midwives’ perceptions of their role as facilitators of informed choice in antenatal screening. Midwifery 29 745–750 Hashemieh M , Timori Naghadeh H , Tabrizi Namini , Neamatzadeh H , Hadipour Dehshal M ,2015.The Iran Thalassemia Prevention Program: Success or Failure? Iranian Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Vol5.No3 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nur.10109-Thomas GM,2016. An elephant in the consultation room?: configuring Down syndrome in British antenatal care. Med Anthropol Q;30:238â€258. -Ross EJ,2015. ‘I think it’s self-preservation’: risk perception and secrecy in early pregnancy. Health Risk Soc.17:329. -Lupton D.The Social Worlds of the Unborn.Basinstoke: Palgrave Macmillan; 2013:153. -Inhorn MC,2007. Reproductive Disruptions: Gender, Technology, and Biopolitics in the New Millennium. New York, NY: Berghahn Books:239. -Glenn EN, Chang G, Forcey LR,1994. Mothering: Ideology, Experience, and Agency. New York, NY: Routledge:387. U.H. Graneheim, B. Lundman. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness Nurs Educ Today, 24 (2004), pp. 105-112 Mahmoudi Nashili Hassan, Nakhjavani Naeema, Eshraghi Peyman,2013. Attitude of Minor Thalassemia Couples on legal abortion of embryo thalassemia. 3; 177-183 Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. Aujoulat I, Libion F, Berrewaerts J, Renard FN, Deccache A, 2010. Adolescent mothers Perspectives regarding their own psychosocial and health needs: A qualitative exploratory study in Belgium. Patient Educ Counsel; 81:448-53. Ghada Mohammad Abu Shosha.Needs and Concerns of Jordanian Mothers with Thalassemic Children: A Qualitative Study. Journal of American Science 2014;10(1): James S, Rooyen DV, Strumpher J,2011. Experiences of teenage pregnancy among Xhosa families. J Midwifery; 4(3):1-81. J Abdul Wahab, M Naznin, M Z Nora,A R Suzanah, M Zulaiha, A R Aidil Faszrul, W S Kamaruzaman.Thalassaemia: A Study on The Perception of Patients and Family Members. Med J Malaysia Vol 66 No 4 October 2011 Kamran Ishfaq, AzraAsghar Ali .Mehreen Hashmi,2015 . Mothers’ Awareness and Experiences of Having a Thalassemic Child: A Qualitative Approach. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS) Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 109-121 Ghazanfari, Z., Arab, M., Forouzi, M., and Pouraboli, B. Knowledge level and educational needs of thalassemic children's parents in Kerman. Iranian Journal of Critical Care Nursing 2010; 3(3):99-103. Prasomsuk, S., Jetsrisuparp, A., Ratanasiri, T. and Ratanasiri, A. Lived experiences of mothers caring for children with thalassaemia major in Thailand. JSPN 2007; 12(1), 13-23.