Szerhasználó várandós és kisgyermekes nők anyaság-fogalmának feltárása

Abstract

Background: The topic of pregnant women and young mothers who are using drugs is overly stigmatized in the public and professional discourse. The topic is rarely researched, however the studies about the possible solutions, protocols are agreeing that for understanding this topic a complex and biopsychosocial approach is needed. It is also a consensus that in modern societies some kind of substance use during pregnancy is foreseen. Aim: The aim of this qualitative case study is to explore the meanings of motherhood for pregnant women and young mothers who are using drugs in Hungary. Methodology: This idiographic case study is designed in a feminist-phenomenological paradigm, the focus is on the respondents’ meanings and experiences as women. The respondents were clients of a harm reduction service for pregnant women who are using drugs. The respondents ( n = 34, mean age: 29 years, range: 18–43 years) were using drugs or were being in opioid substitution therapy. The study was conducted between 2009 and 2014 using different qualitative methods (triangulation): 1) participatory observations at the harm reduction service and at rehabilitation homes for mothers who use drugs, 2) semi-structured interview with pregnant women who are using drugs, 3) deep, longitudinal interviews with 2 mothers at rehabilitation homes for mothers who use drugs. The data analysis was based on thematic analysis (TA). Results: The main themes found: the relationship with the foetus/baby, financial insecurity, the changes of the identity, relationship with the services; in the motherhood: role models, patterns, the motherhood as turning point. Conclusions: The motherhood for women who are using drugs was a turning point to change and to become autonomous. The child becomes the most important issue in their life and in the new autonomy of motherhood a new dependency is developing. This dependence is the child for whom the mother is thankful and willing to change and recover and to spend all their time with. Ambivalence and dependence is expressed in the meaning of motherhood for pregnant women and young mothers who are using drugs.