Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: UK Birth Mothers’ Experiences.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: UK Birth Mothers’ Experiences.
IRAS ID
117767
Contact name
Raja Mukherjee
Contact email
Research summary
This project aims to research the experiences of mothers who have given birth to a child or children diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term for a range of disorders that may occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. The effects of these disorders may include physical, mental, behavioural and learning disabilities often with lifelong implications.
There has been little research into the experience of birth mothers of children with FASD and no published work of this kind in the UK. This study aims to repeat the studies carried out in other countries in a UK population. Whilst similarities might be expected there could also be differences reflecting different cultures, different health care systems, and different guidelines and public health campaigns aimed at drinking during pregnancy.
The topic to be studied is important for a number of reasons. Giving the birth mothers an opportunity to talk about their experiences enables their stories to be heard and this can be empowering. A better understanding of their experience could potentially help shape the support services provided, both for the mothers and the individuals affected by FASD. It could also help inform public health campaigns about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and help the development of targeted prevention strategies.
Six mothers will be interviewed individually about their experiences during pregnancy, at the time of the birth, following pregnancy and during the process of diagnosis of their child.
The interviews will be digitally audio-taped and transcribed. The transcripts will be compared and analysed to determine if there are any themes apparent in the mothers’ experiences.
The results will be written up as a dissertation project for a masters degree in mental health research.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0703
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion