Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Clinical Research Development Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Caring for children infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is highly challenging due to the diverse symptoms and complications. Mothers, in particular, face a unique crisis during their child’s illness. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of mothers caring for children with COVID-19.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach. A total of 13 participants were selected purposively, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with mothers of children diagnosed with COVID-19. Each interview lasted between 35 and 50 minutes. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA 10 software.
Results: The analysis yielded an overarching theme of a “headland of care” comprising two main categories: (1) Children as hidden victims of COVID-19, with subcategories including psychological hazards, lack of family psychological support, death anxiety, and uncertainty regarding long-term consequences of COVID-19; and (2) Livelihood crisis, with subcategories including caregiver job concerns and hospitalization and treatment costs.
Conclusion: The findings provide valuable insights for nurses and healthcare providers in recognizing the challenges mothers encounter when caring for a child with COVID-19. By delivering targeted education and support, healthcare teams can empower mothers, enhance their caregiving capacity, and mitigate the psychological and financial burdens associated with pediatric COVID-19 care.
Highlights
Marzieh Pazokian (PubMed) (Google Scholar)
Keywords
- Shademan B, Nourazarian A, Hajazimian S, Isazadeh A, Biray Avci C, Ahangar Oskouee M. CRISPR technology in gene-editing-based detection and treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Front Mol Biosci. 2021;8:772788. doi: 10.3389/ fmolb.2021.772788.
- Embregts P, Heerkens L, Frielink N, Giesbers S, Vromans L, Jahoda A. Experiences of mothers caring for a child with an intellectual disability during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2021;65(8):760-71. doi: 10.1111/jir.12859.
- Duarte-Salles T, Vizcaya D, Pistillo A, Casajust P, Sena AG, Lai LY, et al. Thirty-day outcomes of children and adolescents with COVID-19: an international experience. Pediatrics. 2021;148(3):e2020042929. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-042929.
- Kainth MK, Goenka PK, Williamson KA, Fishbein JS, Subramony A, Barone S, et al. Early experience of COVID-19 in a US children’s hospital. Pediatrics. 2020;146(4):e2020003186. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-003186.
- Edwards KM, Hackell JM. Countering vaccine hesitancy. Pediatrics. 2016;138(3):e20162146. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016- 2146.
- Motamedzadeh M, Pazokian M, Molaee H. Adaptation to the new world: experiences of bereaved families of the patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Evid Based Care J. 2021;11(2):7-15. doi: 10.22038/ebcj.2021.57542.2503.
- Rahbar Karbasdehi ER, Rahbar Karbasdehi FR. The problems of reopening schools during the coronavirus 2019 epidemic. J Med Educ Dev. 2021;16(2):144-5. doi: 10.18502/jmed. v16i2.7148.
- Younesi F, Hassanabadi H, Noury Ghasemabadi R, Moradi A, Vahidshahi K. The role of maternal rumination, maternal perception of disease severity, executive functions, and surgical-related factors in predicting psychological outcomes in children with congenital heart disease. Advances in Cognitive Science. 2020;22(3):1-13. doi: 10.30699/icss.22.3.1.
- Aein F, Alhani F, Mohammadi E, Kazemnejad A. Needs of mothers of hospitalized children: demanded rights of mothers from nursing services. J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2009;3(3):70- 81.
- Alaee N, Mohammadi-Shahboulaghi F, Khankeh H, Mohammadkhan Kermanshahi S. Effective factors on caring role of parents of children with cerebral palsy. Avicenna J Nurs Midwifery Care. 2019;27(1):55-63. doi: 10.30699/ ajnmc.27.1.55.
- Aein F, Alhani F, Mohammadi E, Kazemnejad A. Marginating the interpersonal relationship: nurses and parent’s experiences of communication in pediatric wards. Iran J Nurs Res. 2008;3(9):71-83.
- Atout M, Tarawneh FS, Al-Kharabsheh A. Challenges faced by mothers caring for children with leukaemia during COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021;58:e74- 80. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.01.009.
- Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24(2):105- 12. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2003.10.001.
- Denzin NK, Lincoln YS. Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In: Denzin NK, Lincoln YS, eds. Strategies of Qualitative Inquiry. 3rd ed. SAGE Publications; 2008. p. 1-43.
- Shirzadi P, Amini Shirazi N, Asgharpour Lashkami Z. Relationship between Corona Anxiety in Mothers and Parent- Child Interaction and Children’s Aggression during Quarantine Days. Journal of Family Research. 2020;16(62):139-154.
- Aghakhani N, Lopez V. Management of patients experiencing anxiety during the coronavirus disease: the main role of healthcare providers in a special crisis. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2021;26(2):188. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_306_20.
- Mousavi SK, Kamali M, Azizkhani H, Mohammadi S. Health anxiety among nurses caring for patients with COVID-19. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2022;27(2):139-43. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr. ijnmr_213_20.
- Ghapanvari F, Namdar P, Moradi M, Yekefallah L. Psychological impact of the COVID-19 on hospitalized patients: a qualitative study. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2022;27(2):92-8. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_382_20.
- Del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes M, Del Mar Molero Jurado M, Oropesa Ruiz NF, Martos Martínez Á, Del Mar Simón Márquez M, Herrera-Peco I, et al. Questionnaire on perception of threat from COVID-19. J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):1196. doi: 10.3390/ jcm9041196.
- Abdi M, Jafarzadeh Dashbalagh H, Alizadeh P. Determining the role of social support of family and friends in predicting coronary anxiety in students. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021;33(3):16- 22.
- Cano A, Scaturo DJ, Sprafkin RP, Lantinga LJ, Fiese BH, Brand F. Family support, self-rated health, and psychological distress. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;5(3):111-7. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v05n0302.
- Chalhoub Z, Koubeissy H, Fares Y, Abou-Abbas L. Fear and death anxiety in the shadow of COVID-19 among the Lebanese population: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2022;17(7):e0270567. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270567.
- Zeraat Herfeh F, Ahmadian Ranjbar R. Negative consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on the life of the elderly: a qualitative study. Aging Psychol. 2021;7(2):93-106. doi: 10.22126/ jap.2021.5900.1488.
- Shirdel E, Hami Kargar F, Sohrabzadeh M. Corona and family challenges: a phenomenological study of the lived experience of the youth of Sistan and Baluchestan. The Women and Families Cultural-Educational. 2021;16(55):133-54.
- Cluver L, Lachman JM, Sherr L, Wessels I, Krug E, Rakotomalala S, et al. Parenting in a time of COVID-19. Lancet. 2020;395(10231):e64. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30736-4.
)