Mothers’ experiences of caring for a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the West Bank, Palestine: A qualitative study
- 1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Professions, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
- 2Faculty of Midwifery, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestine
Abstract
Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer globally and requires prolonged, intensive treatment that places substantial demands on families. Mothers often assume primary caregiving roles; however, their experiences in conflict-affected settings remain underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of Palestinian mothers caring for a child diagnosed with ALL in the West Bank. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study included fifteen mothers of children diagnosed with ALL and receiving treatment at Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, who were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis following the approach of Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The study identified five major themes and eighteen sub-themes reflecting mothers’ experiences: emotional issues (shock and disbelief, negative emotions, denial and rejection); hindrances due to political situations (limited health care access, feeling isolated due to closures); impact of the child’s illness (caregiver burden vs. protective bonding, financial strain, loss of previous life, sibling neglect, shift in the role of the mother, marital life impact, challenges in balancing home routine); resilience and endurance (leveraging social support networks, fatalism and religious faith as a framework, cultivating optimism and positive outlook); and mothers’ needs to enhance resilience (emotional and psychological support, educational and informational needs, financial needs). Conclusion: Mothers caring for children with ALL in the West Bank face profound emotional, social, and structural challenges shaped by both illness-related and political contextual factors. Despite these adversities, mothers demonstrate resilience through social support networks, religious faith, and optimism. Family-centered and context-sensitive interventions that address emotional, educational, and financial needs are essential for strengthening maternal resilience and improving care outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{taqatqa2026mothers,
title = {{Mothers’ experiences of caring for a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the West Bank, Palestine: A qualitative study}},
author = {Baraa Ghalib Yassin Taqatqa and Kawther Elissa and Amani Salim and Salam Khatib},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0362098},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0362098},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mothers’ experiences of caring for a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the West Bank, Palestine: A qualitative study
AU - Baraa Ghalib Yassin Taqatqa
AU - Kawther Elissa
AU - Amani Salim
AU - Salam Khatib
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0362098
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0362098
AB - Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer globally and requires prolonged, intensive treatment that places substantial demands on families. Mothers often assume primary caregiving roles; however, their experiences in conflict-affected settings remain underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of Palestinian mothers caring for a child diagnosed with ALL in the West Bank. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study included fifteen mothers of children diagnosed with ALL and receiving treatment at Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, who were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis following the approach of Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The study identified five major themes and eighteen sub-themes reflecting mothers’ experiences: emotional issues (shock and disbelief, negative emotions, denial and rejection); hindrances due to political situations (limited health care access, feeling isolated due to closures); impact of the child’s illness (caregiver burden vs. protective bonding, financial strain, loss of previous life, sibling neglect, shift in the role of the mother, marital life impact, challenges in balancing home routine); resilience and endurance (leveraging social support networks, fatalism and religious faith as a framework, cultivating optimism and positive outlook); and mothers’ needs to enhance resilience (emotional and psychological support, educational and informational needs, financial needs). Conclusion: Mothers caring for children with ALL in the West Bank face profound emotional, social, and structural challenges shaped by both illness-related and political contextual factors. Despite these adversities, mothers demonstrate resilience through social support networks, religious faith, and optimism. Family-centered and context-sensitive interventions that address emotional, educational, and financial needs are essential for strengthening maternal resilience and improving care outcomes.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -