Exploring intergenerational trauma experienced by mothers who use substances in a low-income community in the Western Cape

In efforts to improve and promote maternal health globally, it is important to address maternal substance use as it has the potential to negatively affect all stages of maternity namely pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood. Mothers who use substances face unique challenges when seeking substance use and mental health treatment and this is further exacerbated in low-income communities. The Western Cape Province of South Africa has displayed particularly elevated rates of maternal substance use and this is due to its history of slavery, systemic oppression and the “dop” legacy. Yet, the trauma that has far-reaching global and intergenerational consequences associated with these high rates remains understudied. The present study therefore explores the experiences of intergenerational trauma that mothers who use substances are faced with in a selected low-income peri-urban community in the Western Cape. A qualitative exploratory research design was used to meet the aim and objectives of the study. A sample of eight mothers recruited from a social development centre in a low-income community in the Western Cape were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. All ethical considerations as stipulated by the ethics committee were adhered to and data obtained from the interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed as per Braun and Clarke’s guidelines.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of the Western Cape

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Setswe, Kitso

• Intergenerational trauma
• Maternal substance use
• Low-income contexts
• Transmission of trauma
• Women’s health

Licence

• https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/bitstreams/9daa304a-352e-484f-9eea-145cdd15dd6f/download