Younger Women’s Experiences of Stroke: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The incidence of stroke in younger adults is rising, especially among women. This study aims to explore the experiences of younger women who have had a stroke to understand their experience and support needs. This study used a qualitative description approach, recruiting eligible women through a snowball method. A focus group discussion was conducted to collect data, which was then analysed using thematic analysis. The five participants were 18 to 64 years old when they experienced their stroke and six to 18 years post-stroke when they participated in a focus group discussion in 2021. Four themes and 11 sub-themes emerged during the data analysis: 1) impacts of stroke (stroke onset and early experiences, physical and psychosocial effects, and changes to their roles and careers); 2) women’s reproductive health (pregnancy, on the contraceptive pill, and effect of anticoagulants on menstruation); 3) self-management (being a woman, healthcare monitoring, and self-care); and 4) support (internal and external support). The younger woman’s burden after stroke is complex due to their risk factors, symptoms, and recovery needs. Therefore, developing specific long-term rehabilitation strategies for younger women are needed for more effective stroke rehabilitation and recurrent stroke prevention.