Nawarat Boonpiam. Experience of motherhood among women with physical disability in Thailand . Master's Degree(Health Social Science). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Experience of motherhood among women with physical disability in Thailand
Abstract:
This qualitative study aimed to understand the meaning and the experiences
of motherhood among women with physical disabilities, and how stigma and
discrimination, including gender, influences the way in which women with disabilities
experience motherhood and also to explore these women’s agency in negotiating their
realities. The results show that women with disabilities perceive motherhood as having
power to fulfill women’s roles and duties in terms of creating life and being a giver. In
addition, motherhood is also a meaningful motivating force for women with
disabilities to overcome their obstacles and to fulfill their role actively by a
commitment to life and love of their children. Regarding mothering experiences, it
was found that women with disabilities showed their strong will to become mothers
since they decided to have their children. Though they encountered difficulties and
barriers regarding their physical limitations as well as stigma and discrimination
because of their disabilities and their pregnant disabled status and maternity, they
negotiated and exercised their power and control over their body and their needs on
motherhood. Mothers with disabilities adjusted their own ways due to physical
limitations to comfort and their disabilities’ effect on taking care of their children. All
of the women who minimized difficulty in meeting their needs and who attempted to
overcome difficulties portrayed greater meaning of being a mother. The social
misconception that they would probably give birth to “defective” babies pressures
their lives in becoming mothers. They all struggle to overcome their worries by taking
good take care of their children. Stigma against disabled mothers manifests in a variety
of ways in family, health service and society such as negative feelings toward disabled
mothers, beliefs that they could not raise the child, criticizing them for their
pregnancy. Stigma affects the lives of women with disabilities who become mothers
in many ways. It causes feelings of inferiority, depression including discrimination
and prejudice in health services. Mothers with disabilities also face inadequately met
information needs and inaccessibility of services and facilities.
Recommendations were made in an attempt to improve health care services
in working with mothers with disabilities in terms of attitude shifts, awareness training
and manuals for women with disabilities. The promotion of empowerment and
independent living is needed as a mechanism to develop equal opportunities for
women with disabilities in their life settings of motherhood