title: Community leaders' perceptions of single, low-income mothers' needs and concerns for social support.
abstract: Purposes of this study were to (a) assess and describe needs and concerns of single, low-income mothers during their transition to parenthood from the perspective of 16 Midwestern community leaders working closely with families and (b) evaluate social support mechanisms that are available for families. Focus group questions were organized around social support theory to gather information. The following themes evolved from focus group discussions: (a) social support issues (emotional, tangible, informational, and appraisal support; positive and negative support); (b) personal barriers to success (stress, low self-esteem, isolation, and inadequate parenting competence); and (c) system barriers (fear of the system and insensitive and ineffective services). Community health nursing strategies were identified that include assessment and interventions for this vulnerable population throughout their infants' 1st year of life and beyond.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA. ccampbell@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Christie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell-Grossman
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brage Hudson
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keating-Lefler
authors.forename: Missy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ofe Fleck
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D003256:Community Participation; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D015406:Single Parent / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations