Lived experiences of mothers caring for children with burn-induced disabilities

Abstract

Objective: Burn itself is a highly painful phenomenon, but even well after the burn wounds have healed, the resultant disabilities in children continue to tax the patience and the ability to care of the mothers of handicapped children. The present study was conducted to explain and interpret mothers' experiences in caring for children with burn-induced disabilities with the interpretive phenomenological method.

Methodology: The research population included the mothers of children with burn-induced disabilities selected through purposive sampling. Face-to-face unstructured interviews were conducted and recorded with an interview guide, and data saturation was achieved after interviewing six mothers. Data were analyzed based on Dickelman’s method.

Results: The analysis of the data extracted from the interviews revealed that mothers’ lived experience of caring for children with burn-induced disabilities could generally be divided into five themes: 1) psycho-emotional breakdown, 2) trying to maintain increasing distress, 3) life continuation in the meaning of care and compensation, 4) raising the child in the care bed, and 5) attention and trying to reach the goal despite the disability.

Conclusion: Mothers of children with burn-induced disabilities experience a wide range of emotions, concerns, and experiences. It's important to acknowledge and understand these feelings to ensure the well-being of both the mothers and their children.    

Key words: Burns; Care; Disability; Mother; Phenomenology

Citation: Shoghi M, Delfani F, Borimnejad L. Lived experiences of mothers caring for children with burn-induced disabilities. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2023;27(5):526−534; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i5.2308

Received: July 23, 2023; Reviewed: August 16, 2023; Accepted: August 16, 2023