Negotiating cancer preventative health behaviours and adapting to motherhood: the role of technology in supporting positive health behaviours

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Across the UK and USA, postpartum smoking relapse rates are high, and rates of breastfeeding and physical activity are low. This project aimed to explore these interrelated health behaviours and technology use, for intervention development to support postpartum cancer prevention.

Methods

Focus groups and interviews with 26 purposively selected women (15 in Vermont, USA and 11 in Norfolk, UK). Recruitment was from deprived areas experiencing multiple disadvantage. Qualitative data were thematically analysed from dual cultural perspectives, underpinned by the social ecological model.

Results

Women negotiate interrelated lifestyle behaviours as part of managing an identity in transition, moving through stages of disturbance, adaptation, acceptance and integration towards “becoming” a new Mother. Technology was integral to women’s process of engagement with mothering identities. Intersectionality underpins complex patterns of interrelated behaviour.

Conclusions

There is scope to improve electronic/digital support for postpartum women cross-nationally to promote interrelated cancer-preventative lifestyle behaviours.

Abbreviations

CDC: Center for Disease Control, US; PA: Physical activity; SES: Socioeconomic status; SVI: Social Vulnerability Index; UK: UK; US: USA; WIC: Women infants and children office.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer prevention
• health inequalities
• motherhood
• identity
• technological intervention

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary data

Supplemental material for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Cancer Research UK Population Research Committee - BUPA Foundation Fund - International Innovation Grant [C54889/A25592]

Notes on contributors

Caitlin Notley

Caitlin Notley is Professor of Addiction Sciences and lead of the Addiction Research group at the University of East Anglia. Professor Notley is a social scientist with expertise in mixed methods research, focusing on smoking cessation, relapse prevention and particularly working with vulnerable populations.

Emma Ward

Dr. Emma Ward is a Research Fellow at Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia.

Angelos P. Kassianos

Dr. Ward is a member of the UEA Addiction Research group and is an experienced mixed methods researcher with a background in researching children and vulnerable groups.

Allison Kurti

Dr. Angelos P. Kassianos is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London’s Department of Applied Health Research with a background in Health Psychology focusing on health behaviour change and digital health interventions.

Fiona Muirhead

Dr. Allison Kurti has expertise in behavioural pharmacology, behavioural economics, and the development of behavioral interventions to improve health. She has a strong research interest in leveraging technological advancements in developing health interventions to increase their attractiveness and their reach.

Dian Nostikasari

Dr. Dian Nostikasari is Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability. In her research, Dr Nostikasari utilizes interdisciplinary approaches in the co-production of built-environment as an essential element for meaningful participation in civic life.

Jamie Payton

Dr. Jamie Payton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at Temple University. Her research is centered around the design of pervasive and wearable computing systems.

Claire Adams Spears

Dr. Claire A. Spears is an Associate Professor in Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. Dr. Spears’ research focuses on interventions to reduce health risk behaviors and enhance quality of life in under served populations.