Maria Wickström: When extra support is needed

Abstract

Newborn infants exhibit a profound dependency on their primary caregivers to meet their essential needs, which is critical for both development and survival. The World Health Organization’s guideline Early Childhood Development underscores the necessity of responsive care during the early years. When individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) become parents, unique challenges may arise, resulting in precarious situations. Thus, both parents and children must receive adequate support from healthcare systems and society.

The primary objective of this thesis was to improve perinatal support for both parents and children, particularly for those with ID.

In Paper I, a population-based cohort study involving over 600,000 children revealed that those born to mothers with ID face a significantly higher risk of mental illness, injuries, and violence compared to peers born to mothers without ID.

Paper II employed focus groups in a qualitative study, highlighting that staff working with individuals with ID find discussions about reproductive health and childbirth particularly challenging. They expressed a need for additional support in addressing issues related to sexual and reproductive health rights.

Paper III conducted a psychometric analysis of the Baby Care Questionnaire in Swedish, indicating that the instrument required revision for optimal fit before use.

Paper IV explored whether an educational programme for healthcare professionals, coupled with comprehensive parental education, could enhance the duration of skin-to-skin contact (SSC). The results demonstrated that the quasi-experimental intervention effectively increased the SSC provided by parents.

The thesis highlights that children of mothers with ID and individuals with ID require additional support and resources. Also, the thesis illustrates that healthcare professionals can influence the behaviour of new parents and thereby increase the frequency of SSC, which offers significant benefits.