The lived experiences of mothers who have children with congenital abnormalities in the Gert Sibande district.
Thandeka B Mazibuko, Tendani Ramukumba, Nomusa Ngwenya
PMID 35924614WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers of children with congenital abnormalities in rural South Africa described emotional pain, guilt and delayed diagnosis.
They lacked psychological support at the time of diagnosis and reported that family and community reactions strongly influenced their ability to accept their child.
Key findings
01Mothers experienced emotional pain and disappointment, often worsened by delayed diagnosis and lack of information about the abnormality.
02Mothers felt guilt and self-blame for their child's condition, questioning whether they should have terminated the pregnancy.
03Family and community reactions were mixed; supportive families helped mothers accept the child, while negative remarks and questioning made acceptance difficult.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was contextual and conducted in a single regional hospital in the Gert Sibande district, so findings cannot be generalised to other settings. Purposeful sampling may have selected participants with specific experiences, potentially missing broader perspectives. The study relied on self-reported experiences without triangulation with other data sources or participants' partners.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources are explicitly stated in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the themes as evidence of an effective intervention. The study describes mothers' experiences and identifies needs, such as psychological support, but does not test whether providing this support improves outcomes. The findings are specific to the Gert Sibande district context and should not be assumed to apply universally without further research.