Abstract:
This presentation is based on research with a group of ten African mothers (seven with a refugee background and three who were came to New Zealand as skilled immigrants) living in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. The research focused on the mothers’ lived experiences and their perceptions of motherhood. Many of the mothers talked about issues to do with their health and well-being and that of their children. Key themes included: post-natal health; emotional and other forms of support for new mothers both within African communities and the wider Auckland public health systems. The mother’s wellbeing was also influenced by their children’s experiences; particularly pervasive were children’s experiences of racism and their mothers’ attempts to support them through difficult times.
