TY - JOUR
T1 - Online support for single, low-income, African American mothers
AU - Hudson, Diane Brage
AU - Campbell-Grossman, Christie
AU - Keating-Lefler, Rebecca
AU - Carraher, Sydnie
AU - Gehle, Jennifer
AU - Heusinkvelt, Sally
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - PURPOSE:: To enhance understanding of the phenomenon of being a single, low-income, African American mother through their discussions and use of an Internet-based social support intervention. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:: The New Mothers Network discussion forum was made available to 20 mothers in their homes for 6 months after the infant's birth. Nineteen mothers posted 174 messages to research nurses and to one another. Thematic analysis of the written messages was completed. RESULTS:: The following themes emerged from discussion forum comments: (a) dealing with the father of the baby, (b) mourning losses, (c) positive and negative support, (d) financial needs and concerns, (e) career and educational goals, (f) balancing act, (g) trust issues, and (h) tuned in to baby. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:: The New Mothers Network allowed these African American mothers to share their experiences and assimilate information from nurses about caring for themselves and their infants. Other nurses can create similar Internet discussion forums for the purposes of providing social support to mothers who have access to computers. Computer software for creating discussion forum sites can be purchased at a reasonable cost, and some are available free of charge.
AB - PURPOSE:: To enhance understanding of the phenomenon of being a single, low-income, African American mother through their discussions and use of an Internet-based social support intervention. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:: The New Mothers Network discussion forum was made available to 20 mothers in their homes for 6 months after the infant's birth. Nineteen mothers posted 174 messages to research nurses and to one another. Thematic analysis of the written messages was completed. RESULTS:: The following themes emerged from discussion forum comments: (a) dealing with the father of the baby, (b) mourning losses, (c) positive and negative support, (d) financial needs and concerns, (e) career and educational goals, (f) balancing act, (g) trust issues, and (h) tuned in to baby. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS:: The New Mothers Network allowed these African American mothers to share their experiences and assimilate information from nurses about caring for themselves and their infants. Other nurses can create similar Internet discussion forums for the purposes of providing social support to mothers who have access to computers. Computer software for creating discussion forum sites can be purchased at a reasonable cost, and some are available free of charge.
KW - African Americans
KW - Internet
KW - Mothers
KW - Social support
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U2 - 10.1097/01.NMC.0000363683.35562.56
DO - 10.1097/01.NMC.0000363683.35562.56
M3 - Article
C2 - 19901696
AN - SCOPUS:72049104418
SN - 0361-929X
VL - 34
SP - 350
EP - 355
JO - MCN The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing
JF - MCN The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing
IS - 6
ER -