Keywords
Women experiences
Namibia
How to Cite
Abstract
Background. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a public health problem predominantly among women of reproductive age in low- to middle-income settings. Women living with RHD have various experiences pertaining to physical, psychological and reproductive health, before and after surgery.Objectives. To explore and describe the post-surgical experiences of women living with RHD in Namibia.Method. The study used a qualitative approach, using an explorative descriptive study to collect data from women living with RHD with in-depth interviews, followed by thematic analysis of the data. The final sample size was five participants.Results. Key themes that emerged were related to positive experiences in terms of surgical outcome; stigma, family and social relationships, and reproductive health. The findings indicated that the women had a broad range of experiences both at home and at work, and in their reproductive relationships.Conclusion. It is recommended that community RHD education programmes be enhanced to raise awareness and educate the communities in order to curb stigma and discrimination against women living with RHD. Programmes to support women with family planning and good maternal and child health are also recommended. The study findings have potential significance with regard to clinical practices involved in caring for women living with RHD, and efforts to improve their life experiences.References
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