Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey

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dc.contributor.advisorDay, Sarah Kathrine
dc.contributor.authorBray, Shameem
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-22T13:51:16Z
dc.date.available2026-10-22T13:51:16Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-10-20T10:09:52Z
dc.description.abstractBackground Breast and cervical cancers are the most diagnosed cancers among women in South Africa, and a substantial proportion of women diagnosed are mothers of dependent children. While cancer care is often framed through biomedical and health system perspectives, less attention has been paid to how motherhood shapes women's experiences of navigating cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. This study explores how maternal identity, caregiving responsibilities, and relationships with children influence women's cancer care journeys in South Africa. Methods Drawing on intersectionality and the cancer care continuum, this a qualitative study drew on patient journey mapping with focus group discussions with women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer across three South African provinces. Results Twenty-four participants who were mothers were included in this study. Seven interrelated themes were identified: (1) navigating the health system as a mother; (2) motherhood, identity, and maternal responsibility; (3) guilt and perceived failure in mothering roles; (4) caregiving practicalities and childcare arrangements; (5) children as caregivers and role reversal; (6) economic and structural constraints; and (7) child-centred fear and anticipatory end-of-life concerns. Motherhood shaped illness interpretation, care-seeking, and treatment decisions, as women navigated caregiving pressures, guilt, and fear for their children within the context of health system barriers, financial strain, and limited support. In some cases, children assumed caregiving roles, introducing emotional complexity and role reversal. Conclusions Motherhood fundamentally shapes women's experiences of cancer care in South Africa, with illness experienced as a relational and moral disruption to caregiving identity and family stability amid intersecting structural barriers.
dc.identifier.apacitationBray, S. (2026). <i>Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43892en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBray, Shameem. <i>"Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43892en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBray, S. 2026. Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43892en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Bray, Shameem AB - Background Breast and cervical cancers are the most diagnosed cancers among women in South Africa, and a substantial proportion of women diagnosed are mothers of dependent children. While cancer care is often framed through biomedical and health system perspectives, less attention has been paid to how motherhood shapes women's experiences of navigating cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. This study explores how maternal identity, caregiving responsibilities, and relationships with children influence women's cancer care journeys in South Africa. Methods Drawing on intersectionality and the cancer care continuum, this a qualitative study drew on patient journey mapping with focus group discussions with women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer across three South African provinces. Results Twenty-four participants who were mothers were included in this study. Seven interrelated themes were identified: (1) navigating the health system as a mother; (2) motherhood, identity, and maternal responsibility; (3) guilt and perceived failure in mothering roles; (4) caregiving practicalities and childcare arrangements; (5) children as caregivers and role reversal; (6) economic and structural constraints; and (7) child-centred fear and anticipatory end-of-life concerns. Motherhood shaped illness interpretation, care-seeking, and treatment decisions, as women navigated caregiving pressures, guilt, and fear for their children within the context of health system barriers, financial strain, and limited support. In some cases, children assumed caregiving roles, introducing emotional complexity and role reversal. Conclusions Motherhood fundamentally shapes women's experiences of cancer care in South Africa, with illness experienced as a relational and moral disruption to caregiving identity and family stability amid intersecting structural barriers. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Motherhood KW - Maternal Identity KW - Cancer Care Continuum KW - Caregiving responsibilities KW - Intersectionality KW - Gendered caregiving norms LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey TI - Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43892 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43892
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBray S. Navigating motherhood through the cancer care journey. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43892en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectMotherhood
dc.subjectMaternal Identity
dc.subjectCancer Care Continuum
dc.subjectCaregiving responsibilities
dc.subjectIntersectionality
dc.subjectGendered caregiving norms
dc.titleNavigating motherhood through the cancer care journey
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPH
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