Mothers' perceptions of factors affecting their abilities to care for infants with allergy

To identify mothers' perceptions of the supporting or straining factors involved in motherhood generally and in relation to child's atopic dermatitis and food allergy at the age of 1-2 years.

The main person who cares for a child in the early years of life is usually the mother. Information on mothers' perceptions of factors affecting their resources to care for their healthy or allergic children is incomplete and needs to be identified.

A descriptive qualitative study with semi-structured interviews.

Altogether 32 interviews with mothers having a one-year-old healthy or allergic child and repeat interviews with mothers of allergic children aged two years were conducted. Deductive content analysis was applied, based on the concept of empowerment and an empowerment model for family nursing.

A child's food allergy at the age of one year caused considerable strain for the mother, chiefly because the adoption of new foods into the child's diet was delayed, and waking at night because of itching related to atopic dermatitis. This delay was still causing the mother additional strain, when the child was two years old. Specific allergy-related strengthening factors were the mother's own knowledge, hope for an improvement, social support and work.

This qualitative study succeeded in identifying strain situations for mothers with one- and two-year-old allergic children. Such mothers should be recognised and provided with individual support by nurses and healthcare professionals to focus on the supporting factors.

Mothers of allergic children should be recognised. An inquiry or questionnaire based on personal abilities and the family's internal and external capabilities may contribute to identifying these mothers. Mothers should be provided with individual encouragement and support from mother and child health clinics by focusing on factors felt to be strengthening ones.