‘n Ondersoek na die betekenis wat vroue heg aan alkoholgebruik tydens swangerskap

Date
2017-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Although speculation about the toxicity of alcohol intake during pregnancy has already surfaced decades ago, the term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the permanent effects of it on human development is a relative new and unknown topic for many. Research indicates that FASD presents one of the most preventable birth defects. It is thus clear that FASD, which is caused through alcohol consumption during pregnancy, is a phenomenon that begs intensive attention, research and interventions. Whereas other qualitative studies in this field focus mainly on the effects of FASD on children, this study’s premise was the attitudes and experiences of mothers who still or who have, consume(d) alcohol during pregnancy. Secondary aims were to understand the value the participants attach to alcohol use, their knowledge of FASD and the role that mental pain or psychological distress plays in their motivation to use alcohol. Mothers who presented rich information were purposefully selected for voluntary participation. Criteria for selection included the fact that participants had to already be mothers, or had to be pregnant and secondly they had to be consuming alcohol whilst pregnant. Working from an interpretivist research paradigm, it was endeavoured to understand the participants’ situations, and their unique lives within specific contexts. Data was generated through open-ended questions, as well as two creative activities, namely a lifeline drawing using the metaphor of life-as-a-river and also using a sandtray with miniature figurines. Data was thematically analysed, and subsequently the findings were presented in a narrative format, by telling each of the four participants’ stories. Research findings revealed that the participants held insufficient or distorted understandings of FASD and that various factors played a role in their attitudes and experiences of alcohol use during pregnancy. These factors include unplanned pregnancies, social influences and pleasure-seeking, mental pain, as well as alcohol dependancy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Alhoewel spekulasie rondom die toksisiteit van alkohol dekades gelede reeds begin het, is die term Fetale alkohol spektrum versteuring (Engelse afkorting: FASD) en die blywende effekte daarvan op menslike ontwikkeling ‘n relatief nuut en onbekende onderwerp vir baie. Navorsing toon egter dat FASD een van die grootste voorkombare geboorteafwykings is. Dit is dus duidelik dat FASD, wat deur alkoholinname tydens swangerskap veroorsaak word, iets is wat intensiewe aandag, navorsing en intervensies verdien. Aangesien ander kwalitatiewe studies in die veld hoofsaaklik op die effekte van FASD op die kind fokus, was die uitgangspunt van hierdie studie die houdings en ervarings van moeders wat tydens swangerskap drank gebruik het of tans steeds gebruik. Sekondêre doelwitte was om die waarde wat die deelnemers heg aan alkoholgebruik, hul kennis van FASD en die rol van geestespyn/sielkundige nood op hul motivering om drank te gebruik, te verstaan. Deelnemers ryk aan inligting is doelgerig geïdentifiseer en genader vir vrywillige deelname. Die kriteria wat in ag geneem is, is eerstens dat die deelnemer reeds ‘n moeder moet wees van ‘n kind en/of tans swanger moet wees. Tweedens was dit ‘n vereiste dat die deelnemers alkohol gebruik het tydens swangerskap of tans ook steeds inneem. ‘n Interpretivistiese paradigma het die navorsingsproses gerig, en daar is gepoog om meer te verstaan van die deelnemers se lewenssituasies, van hul unieke lewens binne spesifieke kontekste. Data is ingesamel deur semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met oop-einde vrae, sowel as met twee kreatiewe aktiwiteite, naamlik die teken van ‘n lewenslyn volgens die metafoor van die lewe-as-‘n-rivier, en deur die gebruik van ‘n sandbak en miniatuur figuurtjies. Inligting is tematies ge-analiseer waarna die bevindinge aangebied is in ‘n narratiewe formaat, deur elke deelnemer se storie te vertel. Die navorsingsbevindinge het getoon dat die deelnemers oor ‘n beperkte en/of verwronge begrip van FASD beskik en dat verskeie faktore ‘n rol kan speel ter vorming
Description
Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2017
Keywords
Pregnant women -- Alcohol use -- Social aspects, Pregnant women -- Alcohol use -- South Africa, Pregnant women -- Alcohol use -- Experiences, Pregnant women -- Alcohol use -- Attitudes, UCTD, Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Citation