Bio
Bree Akesson is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Global Adversity and Wellbeing at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) in Canada. Dena Badawi is a Graduate Research Assistant for the Global Adversity and Wellbeing (GAWB) Research Group at WLU. Karen Frensch is the Research Manager for the GAWB Research Group at WLU.
Abstract
Pregnant women are particularly affected by war, facing violence, displacement to unfamiliar surroundings, disruptions of social support systems, and lack of access to basic needs. Although all war-affected populations may experience stress associated with conflict, flight, and displacement, pregnant women may suffer from this stress differently, as they find themselves struggling to meet the needs of their families while also meeting their own needs. Despite the importance of support for pregnant women living in the context of war and displacement, there is little research directly addressing pregnant women’s experiences in extreme adversity. This paper draws from a larger mixed methods study with Syrian refugee families who had fled Syria and were living in Lebanon. To specifically explore the experiences of pregnant women and mothers, qualitative data were examined from a smaller sub-sample of mothers (mean age 35) who were currently pregnant or who had given birth within the last year. Fathers’ perspectives were also included. Data were analyzed using grounded theory and organized with the web-based platform Dedoose. The findings provide insight into how mothers and fathers experience the perinatal period in a context of extreme adversity. The analysis uncovered four themes identified by mothers: (1) apathy, (2) stress, (3) barriers to accessing services, and (4) lack of social supports. This research adds substantially to the sparse literature on the experiences of pregnancy among war-affected families, suggesting recommendations for social work practice, policy, and research. Practice should emphasize continuous support for mothers from prenatal to postnatal periods, while also engaging fathers and extended family members. Refugee policies should encourage social connectedness among families and communities to support pregnant women. Future research should continue to explore the impact of extreme adversity on pregnancy, child development, and family outcomes.
“The Life Needs to Go On”: The Perinatal Experiences of Syrian Mothers in Lebanon
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