The experiences of mothers with asthmatic children: a content analysis

Having children with chronic diseases such as asthma creates conditions that cause emotional and behavioral problems in parents. In most families, the mother tends to have the first role in caring for her child and therefore mothers endure greater psychological pressure than other family members. These mothers' experiences and problems are different due to cultural and economic differences and the health services they receive. This study aimed to explore the experiences of mothers of an asthmatic child.

In this qualitative study data was collected through unstructured, in-depth interviews with 10 mothers who had an asthmatic child. The Graneheim and Lundman's qualitative content analysis method was used for analyzing the data.

The analysis of data showed five main themes including constant concern, feeling of having an unusual life, the need for help from others, feeling of guilt, and the desire to constantly monitor the child.

The mothers of asthmatic children expressed feelings and experiences that demonstrated their need for support and empathy. Therefore, in addition to the necessity of developing strategies to support these mothers, future studies aiming to reveal methods to provide them with support are also required.