Influence of disability on maternal care

Abstract

[Abstract] The purpose of the study was to examine how women with physical disabilities perceive the influence of their disability on maternal care during the first 3 years of their child’s life, to describe the main difficulties that they must deal with everyday when taking care of their children and to determine which resources, either material or human, and/or strategies that are used for this purpose. The study used a qualitative approach. Conversational techniques (semi-structured interviews) were used to assess the effect of mothers’ physical disabilities during the first 3 years of their child’s life. The study involved participants from the Northwest region of Spain called Galicia. Different points of view regarding the influence of disability on motherhood (especially the influence of disability on maternal care), as well as the influence of a disability on children are identified. The main difficulties these mothers have had to struggle with, as well as the strategies used to overcome them, are also identified. The results obtained in this study show that it is clear that society needs to become aware of these mothers’ testimonies in order to eradicate the existing negative stereotypes regarding disability. In addition, the creation of a service that promotes maternal care is proposed, thus empowering women with disabilities in their maternal role.