The experiences of young women living post-stroke in Jordan: a descriptive phenomenological study

ABSTRACT

Background

The incidence of stroke in younger adults is rising, particularly among women living with stroke who face multiple physical, psychological, and social challenges that negatively affect their quality of life. Consequently, women’s roles in life would be negatively affected at home, work, and in society. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of women suffering from a stroke in Jordan.

Methodology

This paper uses semi-structured interviews to present a descriptive phenomenological study of eight young women suffering from a stroke. The Colaizzi (1978) method was used to analyze interview transcripts.

Main results

Three main emerging themes that describe the lived experiences of women with a stroke: 1) Experiencing stroke as a woman; 2) Stroke and the intimate relationship with the spouse; 3) Challenges of women’s journey while receiving health care.

Conclusion

After their stroke, Jordanian women have experienced profound, interrelated, and multifaceted difficulties in all aspects of their life and relationships inside and outside the family. Whilst healthcare providers recognize these stressful symptoms; however, there is a lack of attention and care to meet these needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Lived experience
• stroke; women with stroke
• intimate relationship after stroke
• public transportation
• financial challenges
• descriptive phenomenological study

Acknowledgments

The Qatar National Library funded the publication of this article.

Authors’ contributions

MNA: Conceptualization. MNA, IAK, RSZ, HAB, ASM, AJN: Research design, Data collection, Analysis, Literature search, Manuscript preparation. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Institutional Review Board at the Ministry of Health in Jordan approved the study, on 20 June 2021. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. All methods were carried out following relevant guidelines and regulations or the Declaration of Helsinki.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10749357.2023.2254049

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.