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Mothers’ Experiences of a Women’s Health and Empowerment Program for Mothers of a Child with a Disability

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Abstract

Substantial research identifies mothers of children with a disability as a vulnerable group with compromised health outcomes and restrictions for their own self-care, social, economic and leisure participation. This study investigated perceptions and experiences of mothers following attendance at health education and empowerment workshops (Healthy Mothers Healthy Families). Mixed methods evaluated mothers’ experiences. A pragmatic qualitative approach was applied to data analysis of interviews with mothers (N = 19). Four themes emerged: Changes for me; Changes for my family; Wisdom gained; and Worthwhile workshops. Mothers described feeling validated and empowered in this facilitated group intervention and valued education about women’s health, tailored research findings, individualised goal setting, time to learn and share with other mothers, and the workshop environment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge and thank the following for financial support: Monash University and the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust fund. The authors acknowledge the following presenters: Ms Michelle Bihary; Dr Craig Hassad; Ms Paula Brodie; Mr Tony Catanese. The authors also sincerely thank occupational therapists Josie Duncan and Aislinn Lalor for assistance at different stages of delivery of the program and the conduction of this research. The research has been presented at the Australian Cerebral Palsy and Development Medicine conference in Adelaide in 2016, at the Australian National Occupational therapy Conference in Perth in 2017, and at the International Carers Conference in Adelaide Australia in 2017.

Funding

This study was funded by VictorianWomen’s Beneveolent Trust fund (no number) and Monash University Formative Grant (No number). Helen M. Bourke-Taylor and Fiona M. Jane received research grants from the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust and Monash University to deliver the workshops and conduct this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational Therapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Building G, Level 4, Peninsula Campus, McMahons road, Frankston, VIC, 3192, Australia

    Helen M. Bourke-Taylor

  2. Women’s Health Research Program, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia

    Fiona M. Jane

Authors
  1. Helen M. Bourke-Taylor
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Contributions

The contributors to this research and manuscript are Helen Bourke-Taylor and Fiona Jane. Associate Professor Helen Bourke-Taylor PhD, is an occupational therapist within the School of Primary and Allied Health Care in the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, at Monash University, Frankston, Australia and is the corresponding author. General Practitioner Fiona Jane MBBS is also a Research Fellow in the Women’s Health Research Program, School of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen M. Bourke-Taylor.

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Conflict of interest

Helen Bourke-Taylor and Fiona Jane have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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Bourke-Taylor, H.M., Jane, F.M. Mothers’ Experiences of a Women’s Health and Empowerment Program for Mothers of a Child with a Disability. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 2174–2186 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3486-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3486-0

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