Exploring the lived experiences of women with congenital heart disease during pregnancy: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Objective: Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most common birth anomalies, and they embraced a wide range of defects ranging from mild defects to complex and life-threatening defects. Medical advancement improved children's survival, and more females are reaching childbearing age. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the lived experience of Jordanian pregnant women with CHD during pregnancy.

Method: This study used a descriptive phenomenological design. Purposive sampling was used in recruiting 15 women from Jordan with CHD who had given birth to at least one live newborn. The study was conducted from October 2019 to April 2020. Data was collected from a public cardiac centre using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was done using Colaizzi's method.

Findings: Three themes were identified: Being a woman with CHD, being pregnant with CHD, and being a CHD patient and healthcare-seeking behaviour. The findings revealed that pregnancy experiences of women with CHD are usually associated with many difficulties, negative emotions, and challenges.

Conclusion and implications for practice: The findings indicated the need for increased awareness and the importance of social support amongst both Jordanian women with CHD and healthcare providers. Also, the study provides new information to healthcare providers and policymakers to better understand the lived experiences of pregnant with CHD from their perspectives as it was associated with many difficulties, negative emotions, and challenges.

Keywords: And Jordan; Congenital heart disease; Lived experiences; Phenomenology; Pregnancy; Qualitative.