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- Title
Traumatic cycles: Perinatal experiences of homeless women.
- Authors
Gordon, Anna C. T.; Mitchell, Caroline
- Abstract
This study was dependant on inclusive cross-sectoral working, from conceptualisation to dissemination and implementation. We describe interviews conducted with 11 women who had experienced pregnancy and homelessness in Sheffield (England), and the impact of this study on local policy. All women described ‘cycles of trauma’ beginning in childhood, contributing to low health literacy, mental illness, and addiction. Pregnancy offered much-desired intimacy and responsibility, and women unanimously wanted to “do the best” for their children. This was a strong motivator to ‘get clean’ and engage with healthcare. However, pregnancies magnified an underlying mistrust of practitioners due to fear of child loss to social services. We discuss the impact of fear on engagement with healthcare and ways to improve engagement with healthcare for this population. We also discovered and discuss a dangerous lack of postnatal care and the impact of this on both mothers and their children.
- Publication
International Journal of Birth & Parent Education, 2023, Vol 10, Issue 2, p22
- ISSN
2054-0779
- Publication type
Academic Journal