scholarly journals Psychosocial challenges and individual strategies for coping with mental stress among pregnant and postpartum adolescents in Nairobi informal settlements: a qualitative investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline W. Wainaina ◽  
Estelle Monique Sidze ◽  
Beatrice W. Maina ◽  
Icoquih Badillo-Amberg ◽  
Hazel Odhiambo Anyango ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
Psychosocial Challenges

Abstract Background This study was part of a project funded under the Grand Challenges Explorations initiative to engage adolescent girls living in the main slums of Nairobi. This involved an innovative co-creation initiative through jointly designing and testing the feasibility of a toolkit of information, skill, and confidence-building, and coping mechanisms that can effectively shield them and their peers against the risks of mental stress during pregnancy and early motherhood. Methods Qualitative interviews and discussions from visual methodologies including Photovoice, digital storytelling, and public service announcements were conducted with 30 pregnant and adolescent mothers aged 14–19 years in four informal settlements either pregnant or having a child less than 2 years. The aims included; to generate an inventory of mental stressors during pregnancy and early motherhood; understand how mental stress affects the ability to seek care for themselves and their child, and understand individual coping strategies. Results The psychosocial challenges identified in order of importance included: chased from home by the parents; economic hardship; neglect and abandonment by the person responsible for the pregnancy; stigmatization by family, friends, and the community; feelings of shattered dreams; and daily stress related to living in poor and unhygienic conditions. During the pregnancy and early motherhood, the participants experienced feelings of embarrassment, shame, hopelessness, and to the extreme, suicidal thoughts clouded their minds. Main coping strategies included social isolation for some, socializing with other pregnant and adolescent mothers, and negative behaviors like the uptake of illicit drugs and alcohol and risky sexual relationships. Conclusion The unpreparedness for early motherhood infused with inadequate psychosocial support led to increased mental stress and risk of depression. The interconnection between the triggers to mental stress showed the need to focus on a multifaceted approach to address the wellbeing of pregnant and adolescent mothers.

scholarly journals Stress and Coping Among Unmarried Pregnant University Students in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thandiwe Msipu Phiri ◽  
Patrick Nyamaruze ◽  
Olagoke Akintola
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Risky Sexual Behavior ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
Pregnant Students ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Background: The improvement of maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes is an important part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). MCH remains an important issue globally as the SDGs have not yet been achieved in most countries. Young women in universities are likely to experience unintended pregnancy due to the risky sexual behavior in tertiary institutions which is characterized by lack of condom and/or contraceptive use and coercion. Pregnant young women in an academic environment are susceptible to stressors associated with unintended pregnancy and academic demands of universities. However, very little is known about the stress and coping among young people in tertiary institutions who get pregnant during the course of their studies and choose to keep the pregnancy. Methods: Participants were purposively selected among pregnant students and those in the puerperal period at the time of the study. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken to explore the experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood, with particular focus on the various stressors experienced and possible coping strategies employed by students. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings show that pregnancy and early motherhood was an experience that came with a lot of stress emanating from fear of parents’ reactions, academic pressure, financial constraints, relationship problems with male partners and experiences of social stigma. Participants used emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies to deal with the stressors confronting them during and after their pregnancy.Conclusion: The experiences of pregnant students are multifaceted and generally characterised by financial crisis, academic challenges, shame, strenuous relationships and transitioning into a new identity. A multipronged approach to healthcare for pregnant students that focus on comprehensive antenatal services, health education, health promotion, psychosocial interventions including academic counselling will have positive outcomes for adolescent mothers and their children.

The Way in Which Child and Youth Care Workers in South Africa Cope with Psychosocial Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesiba Phineas Molepo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Collective Case Study ◽  
Child And Youth Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Psychosocial Challenges

Child and youth care workers deal with the psychosocial challenges experienced by young people in their care and may as a result themselves experience stress, anxiety and depression. This paper explores the psychosocial challenges experienced by child and youth care workers in South Africa, and the coping strategies that they apply. A collective case study design within a qualitative approach was used. Purposive sampling was used, with the sample consisting of 93 participants from government and non-governmental organisations based in rural, semi-urban and urban areas across the six provinces of South Africa. An interview schedule was designed to collect qualitative data from 11 focus group interviews. Data analysis was divided into data reduction, data display, and drawing and verifying conclusions. Psychosocial challenges identified by the participants were the inability to disengage from the work environment, disengagement from social activities, personal trauma, invasion of personal boundaries, and emotional well-being issues. The following broad coping strategies were identified: non-existent coping mechanisms, personal missions, substance abuse, withdrawal, and thoughts of quitting. Child and youth care workers experience a range of psychosocial challenges but have established a range of mostly adequate and contextually relevant coping strategies. The paper recommends that child and youth care workers find a healthy balance between their personal and professional life, timeously seek psychosocial support, and keep on developing themselves to acquire skills that will enhance their practice and broaden their scope of practice.

scholarly journals Improving the quality of child-care centres through supportive assessment and ‘communities of practice’ in informal settlements in Nairobi: protocol of a feasibility study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042544
Author(s):  
Margaret Nampijja ◽  
Kenneth Okelo ◽  
Patricia Kitsao Wekulo ◽  
Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage ◽  
Helen Elsey
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Child Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Child Care Centre ◽  
Scientific Review

IntroductionInvesting in children during the critical period between birth and age 5 years can have long-lasting benefits throughout their life. Children in Kenya’s urban informal settlements, face significant challenges to healthy development, particularly when their families need to earn a daily wage and cannot care for them during the day. In response, informal and poor quality child-care centres with untrained caregivers have proliferated. We aim to co-design and test the feasibility of a supportive assessment and skills-building for child-care centre providers.Methods and analysisA sequential mixed-methods approach will be used. We will map and profile child-care centres in two informal settlements in Nairobi, and complete a brief quality assessment of 50 child-care centres. We will test the feasibility of a supportive assessment skills-building system on 40 child-care centres, beginning with assessing centre-caregivers’ knowledge and skills in these centres. This will inform the subsequent co-design process and provide baseline data. Following a policy review, we will use experience-based co-design to develop the supportive assessment process. This will include qualitative interviews with policymakers (n=15), focus groups with parents (n=4 focus group discussions (FGDs)), child-care providers (n=4 FGDs) and joint workshops. To assess feasibility and acceptability, we will observe, record and cost implementation for 6 months. The knowledge/skills questionnaire will be repeated at the end of implementation and results will inform the purposive selection of 10 child-care providers and parents for qualitative interviews. Descriptive statistics and thematic framework approach will respectively be used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data and identify drivers of feasibility.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by Amref Health Africa’s Ethics and Scientific Review Committee (Ref: P7802020 on 20th April 2020) and the University of York (Ref: HSRGC 20th March 2020). Findings will be published and continual engagement with decision-makers will embed findings into child-care policy and practice.

The Voice of Experience: Diet and Weight Change in Women with Breast Cancer Associate with Psychosocial and Treatment-Related Challenges

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivienne Vance ◽  
Sharon Campbell ◽  
Linda Mccargar ◽  
Marina Mourtzakis ◽  
Rhona Hanning
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Food Cravings ◽  
Psychosocial Challenges ◽  
The Voice

Purpose: This study investigated relationships between psychosocial and treatment-related factors, diet, and weight change in women treated with chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. Methods: Comprehensive qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 women who were within 12 months of completing chemotherapy treatment. Results: Changes in food intake and eating patterns were universal over the course of chemotherapy, with broad variability in treatment effects and associated dietary responses linked to weight change. Increased appetite, food cravings, and intake of energy-dense comfort foods were more common among women who gained weight during treatment (n = 11). Changes in taste, nausea, and emotional distress were central in promoting these dietary responses. Women who lost weight during treatment (n = 6) tended to report more severe and persistent side effects of treatment leading to poor appetite and lower food intake, and they were more likely to live alone. Conclusions: While the etiology of weight change in this population is complex, this study suggests that changes in food intake related to treatment and psychosocial challenges may play an important role for some women. These findings may help to identify women who are most at risk of weight change during treatment and may inform the development of tailored dietary interventions.

scholarly journals Coping with cancer: The role of different sources of psychosocial support and the personality of patients with cancer in (mal)adaptive coping strategies

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Baník ◽  
Mária Dědová ◽  
Lenka Vargová
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Personality Factors ◽  
Adaptive Coping ◽  
Maladaptive Coping ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Emotional Factors ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Level Of Experience

ObjectivesCancer is a serious event in a person's life. However, certain coping strategies in relation to selected social, emotional and personality factors appear to manage the disease.MethodsSources of social support were tested in cancer survivors (N = 696) using hierarchical linear regression. Selected personality variables in terms of sociodemographic, clinical, and emotional factors were used as predictors of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies.Results It was found that adaptive coping strategies were more frequent in younger patients, in patients who attended cancer support groups and those with a greater level of optimism. Maladaptive coping was related to the higher level of experience of pain and sadness, neuroticism, and pessimism. The absence of a relapse and the time since the disease had been diagnosed were also important factors in coping with cancer.Conclusions The results point to the importance of considering various individual factors in the process of intervention to facilitate adaptive coping and to reduce maladaptive coping.

scholarly journals What does social support sound like? Challenges and opportunities for using passive episodic audio collection to assess the social environment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anubhuti Poudyal ◽  
Alastair van Heerden ◽  
Ashley Hagaman ◽  
Celia Islam ◽  
Ada Thapa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
The Social ◽  
Audio Data

Abstract Background: The social environment, including social support, social burden, and quality of interactions, influences a range of health outcomes, including mental health. Passive audio data collection on mobile phones (e.g., episodic recording of the auditory environment without requiring any active input from the phone user) enables new opportunities to understand the social environment. We evaluated the use of passive audio collection on mobile phones as a window onto the relationship between the social environment within a study of mental health among adolescent mothers in Nepal.Methods: We enrolled 23 adolescent mothers who first participated in qualitative interviews to describe their social support and identify sounds potentially associated with that support. Then episodic recordings were collected for two weeks from the same women using an app to capture 30 seconds of audio every 15 minutes from 4am to 9pm. Audio data were processed and classified using a pretrained model. Each classification category was accompanied by a predicted accuracy score. Manual validation of the machine-predicted speech and non-speech categories (10%) was done for accuracy.Results: In qualitative interviews, mothers described a range of positive and negative social interactions and the sounds that accompanied these. Potential positive sounds included adult speech and laughter, baby babbling and laughter, and sounds from baby toys. Sounds characterizing negative stimuli included yelling, crying, screaming by adults and crying by babies. Sounds associated with social isolation included silence and TV or radio noises. Speech comprised of 43% of all passively recorded audio clips (n=7725). Manual validation showed a 23% false positive rate and 62% false-negative rate for speech, demonstrating potential underestimation of speech exposure. Other common sounds included music and vehicular noises.Conclusions: Passively capturing audio has the potential to improve understanding of the social environment. However, the limited accuracy of the pre-trained model used in this study did not adequately distinguish between positive and negative social interactions. To improve the contribution of passive audio collection to understanding the social environment, future work should improve the accuracy of audio categorization, code for constellations of sounds, and combine audio with other smartphone data collection such as location and activity.

scholarly journals Stopping to Listen: Using Qualitative Methods to Inform a Web-Based Platform for Adults With Neurofibromatosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110496
Author(s):  
Ethan G. Lester ◽  
Paula J. Popok ◽  
Victoria A. Grunberg ◽  
Alejandro Baez ◽  
Farahdeba Herrawi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Efficient Access ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Life Context ◽  
Specific Factors

Introduction: Psychosocial care for people with neurofibromatosis (NF) is challenging to access. Therefore, we sought to develop a self-guided web-based treatment platform for people with NF based on the live video relaxation response resiliency program for NF (3RP-NF). Here we report on qualitative interviews with adult patients who participated in the 3RP-NF to: (a) understand participant perceptions of the 3RP-NF program and (b) gather feedback for a self-guided web-based treatment platform (i.e., NF-Web). Methods: We conducted individual semistructured interviews ( N = 23; videoconferencing). We utilized both the Framework method and a hybrid deductive and inductive approach to analyze qualitative data. Results: We examined findings within the following themes for both 3RP-NF and NF-Web: (a) general attitudes, (b) barriers and facilitators, and (c) program-specific factors. Participants endorsed positive attitudes towards the 3RP-NF and NF-Web and described unique barriers and facilitators to each and provided suggestions regarding technology, NF-specific needs, and ways to promote social support virtually. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of gathering participant feedback when designing novel, illness-specific interventions. In future studies, we aim to provide people with NF effective and efficient access to psychosocial support that matches their needs and life context. Results are informing NF-Web development.

Between Utopia and Reality: Insecurity in Indigenous and Mennonite

2021 ◽  
pp. 179-189
Author(s):  
Carlos Anibal Peris Castiglioni
Keyword(s):  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Social Transformations ◽  
The Social

How can the social transformations of present-day Filadelfia, Boquerón, Paraguay be studied? In this article, new dynamics that show insecurity in Mennonite and indigenous communities are described. Qualitative interviews were carried out. Fourteen representatives were interviewed on: a) The main incidents that demonstrate vulnerability and, b) the identification of the aggressors as the Settlers. The reports provided by indigenous persons show that actions that are legal can still constitute a nightmare when exploitation and conditions of vulnerability are added. Regarding the Mennonite Settlers, they say that their youngmen in their desire to break the rules, consume, sell and introduce illicit drugs to their communities. Regarding the incidents of violence against women, those who force or abuse female members of the congregation are their fathers, brothers, uncles and grandfathers.

A Comparison of Coping Strategies of African American and Caucasian Widows

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakinah N. Salahu-Din
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Task Support ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Children Health ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
Selection Of

This study, based on in-depth qualitative interviews with three Caucasian widows and four African-American widows, describes and compares the women's selection of coping strategies to deal with problems occurring after the death of their husbands. Results of this investigation suggest more similarities than differences in coping strategies adopted to deal with loneliness, difficulties with children, health issues, loss of task support, and the use of social support networks as a coping mechanism. Although the husbands' death was devastating, personal growth experiences were positive results of the loss. This study also suggests implications for professionals working with both Black and white widows.

scholarly journals Doing and rethinking. Building resilience with men

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Robinson ◽  
Steve Robertson ◽  
Mary Steen ◽  
Gary Raine ◽  
Rhiannon Day
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Resilience Intervention ◽  
And Coping

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings from an evaluation of a mental health resilience intervention for unemployed men aged 45-60. The focus is on examining the place of activities within a multi-dimensional men’s mental health programme, and exploring interactions between social context factors and models of change. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on before and after survey data and qualitative interviews, to report results concerning effectiveness in changing men’s perceived resilience, to consider project processes concerning activities, social support and coping strategies, and to situate these within wider environments. Findings – The programme significantly raised the perceived resilience of participants. Activities were engaging for men, while the complex intersection between activities, social networking, and coping strategies course provided opportunities for men to develop resilience in contexts resonant with their male identities. Research limitations/implications – A limitation is that the evaluation could not measure longer term impacts. Practical implications – The paper discusses emerging considerations for resilience building, focusing on gender-sensitive approaches which can engage and retain men by focusing on doing and talking, in the contexts of men’s life-course, highlighting embodied (male) identities not disembodied “mental states”, and facilitating social support. There are challenges to recruit men despite stigma, support men to speak of feelings, and facilitate progression. Social implications – Potential exists for gender-aware programmes to sustain salutogenic change, co-producing social assets of peer support, male-friendly activities, and context sensitive course provision. Originality/value – The paper adds fresh evidence of gendered intervention approaches, including effects on male resilience. Application of a context-sensitive change model leads to multi-component findings for transferring and sustaining programme gains.

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