Holistic health service needs of single mothers attending social care services in the Cottonera area

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to explore the perceptions on health service needs of single mothers who make use of services offered at Cospicua Health Centre and ACCESS. The researcher aimed to explore the insight of service providers who contribute at ACCESS by using a comparative approach between the perceptions of the service givers and service users. In order to reach the main aims of the study the researcher focused on identifying: ~ the definition of health perceived by single mothers and service givers of ACCESS, ~ Health service needs of single mothers living in the Cottonera area, who make use of services offered at ACCESS and Cospicua Health Centre, ~ Compare different perceptions of the above, ~ Discover possibilities that help in linking and integrating health service needs. For this small-scale qualitative comparative study, the researcher developed and piloted 2 questionnaires. One for face to face interviews with 10 single mothers aged 20-30 years and service users of both Cospicua Health Centre and ACCESS. The second semi structured questionnaire was utilised by the researcher during focus group sessions with service givers of ACCESS. Results from this study indicate that the health needs of single mothers living in the Cottonera area have increased and social services givers are willing to support them. However, the resources available were viewed as barriers towards the expansion of the health services. Also, the single mothers who took part in the study did not view the underestimation of health needs as a consequence to health deterioration. It was noted that strategies which meet health needs of single mothers are presently lacking. Therefore, stakeholders and health professionals are advised to plan effective strategies which focus to meet the health needs of single mothers living in Cottonera area.