“How Could I Have Done This?” Thoughts of Mothers of Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Zabotka, Joelle; Bradley, Carolyn; Escueta, MaryTherese

doi:10.1080/1533256x.2016.1243123

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Researchers are, however, increasingly indicating that understandings of the experiences of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are also important. For example, findings from qualitative studies conducted in Canada (Kruk & Banga, 2011), the United States (Zabotka et al, 2017) and South Africa (Eaton et al, 2014;Watt et al, 2014) highlight the role played by stress and trauma in substance use during pregnancy, with pregnant women indicating that they turn to alcohol and/or drugs in an attempt to cope with past and present stressors in their lives.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Shame of Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant: The Production of Avoidance and Ill-Health

Matebese

Macleod

Tsetse

2021

Affilia

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In this article, we examine the operation of shame in the alcohol use habits of pregnant women and the responses of their families and associated institutions. Using a narrative–discursive approach, we interviewed 13 women, living in a low-resource setting in South Africa, who had consumed alcohol while pregnant. Narratives showed how both the act of drinking and “inappropriately” timed pregnancy (early and out of wedlock) were judged to be unacceptable. Women who engaged in these activities were positioned as bad mothers or promiscuous. Their actions were seen as resulting in the suffering of others—the future child, the family, and even the community. These narratives were underpinned by cultural and religious discourses. Women managed the shame accruing to them through avoidance and concealment; families instructed women to self-exclude or distanced themselves from the women’s behavior; and institutions subtly or overtly excluded women. The shaming of these women, and the mechanisms by which such shame was managed, did little to decrease drinking or to increase maternal health and welfare. Overall, this article demonstrates how the shame of drinking alcohol during pregnancy produces avoidance behavior, concealment, and exclusion, which are not constructive in terms of maternal health and well-being. The implications for a feminist narrative approach to drinking during pregnancy are outlined: moving beyond a focus on individual behavior change to locating personal stories within the meta-narratives and social discourses that shape pregnant women’s lives.

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confidence: 99%

The Shame of Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant: The Production of Avoidance and Ill-Health

Matebese

Macleod

Tsetse

2021

Affilia

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“…Furthermore, biological parents worried that they also had FASD and that this undiagnosed condition impacted their ability to parent effectively. Zabotka (2013) noted that parents experienced intense guilt over the realization that their drinking caused their child's FASD. Importantly, these feelings of guilt persisted to some extent regardless of mitigating factors such as coping skills or having access to supports.…”

Section: Needs Of the Family And Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has noted a relationship between childhood trauma and problems related to alcohol during adulthood (Miller, Downs, Gondoli, & Keil, 1987;Waldrop, Santa Ana, Saladin, McRae, & Brady, 2007;Widom & HillerSturmhofel, 2001;Widom, Ireland, & Glynn, 1995;Wilsnack, Vogeltanz, Klassen, & Harris, 1997). Importantly, witnessing domestic violence may also contribute to problematic drinking later in life (Dube, Anda, Felitti, Edwards, & Williamson, 2002;Zabotka, 2013).…”

Section: Needs Of the Family And Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At times, parents used denial to minimize the risks o f drinking and ultimately lower their cognitive dissonance. Zabotka (2013) explored the coping strategies of parents whose children had FASD.…”

Section: Needs Of the Family And Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…autism), highlighting the importance of offering supports that specifically target the needs o f families whose children have suspected FASD. Zabotka's (2013) qualitative study, involving 11 biological mothers, examined the contextual factors that can contribute to drinking during pregnancy and biological parents' experiences o f coping with the realization that their drinking caused their child's FASD.…”

Section: Needs Of the Family And Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Daily experiences of parenting a child with suspected FASD and the applicability of a psycho-educational group.

Bennett¹

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Understanding the Social Stigma of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: From Theory to Interventions

et al. 2020

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Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD is a spectrum of structural, functional, and neurodevelopmental problems with often lifelong implications, affecting communities worldwide. It is a leading preventable form of intellectual disabilities and therefore warrants effective prevention approaches. However, well-intended FASD prevention can increase stigmatization of individuals with FASD, women who consume or have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, and non-biological parents and guardians of individuals with FASD. This narrative review surveyed the literature on stigmatization related to FASD. Public stigma appears to be the most common form of stigma studied. Less is known about FASD-related self-stigma, stigma by association, and structural stigma. Accordingly, the current literature on FASD-related stigma does not appear to provide sufficient guidance for effectively reducing FASD-related stigma. However, lessons can be learned from other related health topics and the use of a systematic approach for the development of health promotion programs, namely Intervention Mapping.

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“How Could I Have Done This?” Thoughts of Mothers of Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

The Shame of Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant: The Production of Avoidance and Ill-Health

The Shame of Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant: The Production of Avoidance and Ill-Health

Daily experiences of parenting a child with suspected FASD and the applicability of a psycho-educational group.

Understanding the Social Stigma of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: From Theory to Interventions

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