title: The Characteristics of Local Support Systems, and the Roles of Professionals, in Supporting Families where a Mother has an Intellectual Disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There might be a need for support for families where the mother has an intellectual disability, in order to counteract the effects of potential parental inadequacy and other detrimental aspects of the family situation. The purpose of this study was to describe how professionals characterized such support and the collaboration required.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group interviews involving 29 professionals were conducted and analysed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes were identified: The roles and activities of the professionals involved; ways in which needs of support are identified; problems in identifying mothers with an intellectual disability; how professionals coordinate their support and work together; and the dilemma concerning legislative actions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By identifying both fruitful and problematic aspects of professional support, the findings may be used to enhance future support. More efficient chains of information and improved inter-sector collaboration between professions may further enhance the support practices.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.|Department of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Weiber
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per-Anders
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tengland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009035:Mothers; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods*; D000068217:Social Workers; D013548:Sweden
keywords: collaboration; disability; family; legislative actions; structure of support