Poverty as context for the parenting experience of low-income Lumbee Indian mothers with a medically fragile infant.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the influence of poverty on the parenting experience and maternal developmental trajectory of Lumbee mothers with medically fragile infants.


METHODS
A multiple-case study design using secondary data from a larger longitudinal study of parental role attainment with medically fragile infants.


METHODS
Five cases involving mothers who were Lumbee Indians and who had medically fragile infants.


RESULTS
The key features of the mothers' talk about their parenting experiences were organized into categories that fit into five inductively derived themes related to poverty.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care professionals need to be aware of how the context of living in poverty affects mothers of high-risk infants who are hospitalized in tertiary care units. In particular, low-income mothers, especially American Indians living in high-poverty areas, urgently need improved community resources such as access to birth control; early prenatal care; programs to help reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco use both during and following pregnancy; and follow-up health and developmental services for their infants.
Docherty
Sharron L
SL
School of Nursing, Duke University Medical Center, USA.
Lowry
Candace
C
Miles
Margaret Shandor
MS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000208:ethnology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009657:North Carolina; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000208:ethnology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015406:Single Parent / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation