A qualitative study, using Van Manen’s methodological approach to hermeneutic phenomenology, was selected, in order to capture the full and rich understanding and meaning of this phenomenon in the women’s live.

Women were enrolled from three different areas of the, urban squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan. Eight women were enrolled who met the inclusion criteria; who were in the two to six weeks range of the postpartum period. Unstructured interviews were conducted with open-ended questions; the audio-taped interviews were transcribed; and translation was done from Urdu to English.

The study utilized van Manen’s process for data analysis. Data was arranged by meaning, into units or themes. Then, the researcher applied a thematizing process in order to identify the essence of the phenomenon. The study results found that maternal transition was impacted by various individual and context based experiences, and each mother felt a deep and unique restoration of self. Moreover, ‘physiological, psychological, socio-economic, spiritual, and health services’ experiences emerged as the five concrete situations, and these situations all related to around the notion of “transition to motherhood”. 

This study has contributed to a deeper understanding of the nature and meaning of postpartum experiences, which can offer an insight for nurses and other health care professionals in caring for women during their postpartum period, at clinical area as well as home care at the community sites. Future recommendations for nursing research, related to the thesis topic, have also been delineated.

See more of Health Experiences of Adult Women
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)