TY - JOUR

T1 - From being restrained to recapturing vitality

T2 - non-western immigrant women’s experiences of undergoing vitamin D treatment after childbirth

AU - Qvist, Ninni

AU - Bergström, Ingrid

AU - Åkerstedt, Torbjörn

AU - Persson, Jan

AU - Konradsen, Hanne

AU - Forss, Anette

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a complex topic in human health and ill-health and has been studied in a variety of contexts and populations. Few studies examine Vitamin D deficiency among non-western immigrant women and even fewer examine women’s perspective on daily life while living with low vitamin D levels after childbirth and undergoing vitamin D treatment. The aim was, therefore, to explore health and ill-health among non-western immigrant women living with low vitamin D levels after childbirth and reaching normalized levels after one year of vitamin D treatment. Method: An explorative qualitative study using qualitative content analysis. Six women aged 25 to 38 years, diagnosed with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels during pregnancy, were recruited after having undergone vitamin D treatment. Results: The women told about living a restrained life which gradually transformed into an experience of recaptured vitality. They also experienced a need for continuity in medication, as an interruption of treatment meant returning symptoms. Conclusion: In this study, non-western immigrant women described benefits in everyday life, increased strength, relieved pain and improved sleep quality. The findings can provide valuable knowledge for healthcare providers meeting women with physical weakness, musculoskeletal pain and/or poor sleep quality after childbirth. Further studies using a longitudinal design and larger samples are warranted.

AB - Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a complex topic in human health and ill-health and has been studied in a variety of contexts and populations. Few studies examine Vitamin D deficiency among non-western immigrant women and even fewer examine women’s perspective on daily life while living with low vitamin D levels after childbirth and undergoing vitamin D treatment. The aim was, therefore, to explore health and ill-health among non-western immigrant women living with low vitamin D levels after childbirth and reaching normalized levels after one year of vitamin D treatment. Method: An explorative qualitative study using qualitative content analysis. Six women aged 25 to 38 years, diagnosed with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels during pregnancy, were recruited after having undergone vitamin D treatment. Results: The women told about living a restrained life which gradually transformed into an experience of recaptured vitality. They also experienced a need for continuity in medication, as an interruption of treatment meant returning symptoms. Conclusion: In this study, non-western immigrant women described benefits in everyday life, increased strength, relieved pain and improved sleep quality. The findings can provide valuable knowledge for healthcare providers meeting women with physical weakness, musculoskeletal pain and/or poor sleep quality after childbirth. Further studies using a longitudinal design and larger samples are warranted.

KW - low vitamin D levels

KW - musculoskeletal pain

KW - Non-western immigrant women

KW - physical weakness

KW - post pregnancy

KW - qualitative methods

KW - sleep

KW - women’s health

U2 - 10.1080/17482631.2019.1632111

DO - 10.1080/17482631.2019.1632111

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31232674

AN - SCOPUS:85067874486

VL - 14

JO - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

JF - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

SN - 1748-2623

IS - 1

M1 - 1632111

ER -