Women, mothers, patients with mental disorders: sociodemographic and experience characteristics

• Grant number: 05/04733-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2006
• End date: April 30, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Psychiatric Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Pimenta Carvalho
• Grantee: Ana Maria Pimenta Carvalho
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

According to literature, most women with mental disorders are mothers. These women seem to experience difficulties to cope with motherhood, which can be a risk factor for their children’s development. Professionals involved in care for these mothers often ignore this aspect of their lives in the context of treatment. Thus, it is important to invest in the identification of women with mental disorders who have children, with a view to promoting mothering abilities, exerting a positive influence on these mothers and their children. In the first project phase, we intend to respond questions related to the prevalence of mothers receiving outpatient treatment for psychiatric disorders, number of children, children’s age range, mother’s civil status, distribution according to diagnosis, medical records of family relationship difficulties and treatment at other outpatient clinics. In order to answer these questions, we will consult the records of female patients attend at the outpatient service of the Psychiatric Clinic (SACP) at the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School Hospital das Clínicas between 2000 and 2005. In the second phase, we will select a total of up to 20 patients for each diagnosis group, considering the most prevalent groups at the SACP. The saturation criterion will be used to determine sample size. A semistructured interview script will be used for data collection, covering subjects like the patient’s and the family’s difficulties to cope with the disease, to handle domestic and mothering activities, as well as the social support network. This study aims to understand the disease and mothering experience from the women’s own perspective. (AU)