Voices from the shadows: a phenomenological study on the maternity care experiences of visually impaired mothers in Türkiye.

BACKGROUND

While the parenting process presents various challenges for all individuals, visually impaired mothers face more complex obstacles during childbirth due to societal prejudices and inaccessible physical environments. There is a gap in the literature regarding the extent to which current healthcare services address the specific needs of this group.

AIM: This study aims to examine the birth care experiences of visually impaired mothers and their interactions with the healthcare system within the framework of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

METHODS

Due to the population being difficult to reach and sensitive, participants were selected using the snowball sampling method. In-depth individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 visually impaired mothers living in different cities of Türkiye. The sample was concluded when thematic saturation was reached at the point where the data began to repeat itself. The interviews investigated experiences related to pregnancy, birth and motherhood; support received from spouses, family and friends; accessibility and expectations of health services, discrimination in the health system and unprofessional attitudes. The time elapsed since the participants' first experience of motherhood spanned up to 14 years; the experiences during this period were analyzed through a phenomenological approach, filtering them through a retrospective lens of meaning-making.

RESULTS

A total of ten visually impaired mothers participated in this study (five with congenital and five with acquired visual impairment). Participants ranged in age from 39 to 47. The concentration of the sample in this age group stems from the clustering of accessible social networks within this group. Future studies are recommended to comparatively examine the experiences of visually impaired mothers in younger age groups. Retrospective experiences were collected using in-depth questioning techniques against memory bias and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. IPA of the interview transcripts revealed four overarching themes that make sense of the world and experiences of visually impaired mothers. (1) maternal identity and sensory paradoxes, (2) t an institutional wall: invisibility and exclusion, (3) the line of resilience: validating and buffering support, (4) dignified care: envisioning future accessibility.

CONCLUSION

The research reveals that visually impaired mothers face emotional isolation, loss of autonomy, and discriminatory attitudes, and that their experiences are shaped by systemic deficiencies and prejudices. In light of these findings, it is necessary to add disability rights and inclusive communication modules to midwifery curricula, to provide informed consent in accessible formats during childbirth, and to develop personalized midwifery care models for visually impaired women. Furthermore, integrating physical and digital accessibility standards into childbirth care at the health policy level is critical to preventing discrimination and protecting patient autonomy.