The Lived Experience of Mothers of Children with Cancer

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThus, the path of mothers with cancer children is intricate and severe. Several studies have addressed this topic. Most have considered the long-term effects of the children’s cancer diagnosis on the mother from a mental health perspective. The experience of living with cancer children as mothers reveals the urgent need to pay attention to the mother’s emotional, psychological, and social factors shaping caregiving.ObjectiveThis study aimed to look further into the lived experiences of Ethiopian mothers with children suffering from childhood cancer.MethodInterpretive phenomenological approach of qualitative study conducted at the pediatric oncology unit of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Tesfa Addis Parents Childhood Organization. Study participants were selected using the snowball purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. A total of 12 mothers were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed and Open Code 4.3 software was used for data management and used thematic analysis.ResultWhen raising a child with childhood cancer, mothers encounter a wide range of issues in the context of childhood cancer care, including fatigue, poor access to high-quality medical care, divorce, parenting withdrawal, excessive medical expenses, lack of sufficient and accurate information, anxiety, impatience, forgetfulness, regret, and spiritual struggles. To overcome such difficulties, mothers employ loans, financial aid, and the sale of their homes and other assets to reduce their financial burden. Mothers’ other coping method was to accept many sorts of support from family, friends, strangers, and organizations. The assistance received helped mothers gain resilience.ConclusionThe study provides crucial insights into the experiences of mothers of children with childhood cancer. The diagnosis of childhood cancer has a profound impact on mothers, and it elicits various reactions from them. Investigate the emotional, mental, and social drivers of caregiving, emphasizing important factors such as financial pressure, insufficient quality medical treatment, emotional disturbances, and strategies of coping with their children by the mothers. Establish counseling and support schemes for mothers to cope with cancer therapy for their child. Organize community awareness campaigns to increase understanding, reduce stigma, and promote early treatment.