Younger adult women who had a stroke or at high stroke risk: Exploration of their experiences and needs.

Background: Worldwide, women, particularly younger and middle-aged (≤65 years), are disproportionately affected by stroke. Although the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits is integral for stroke risk factor modification, little is known about younger adult women who had a stroke or are at high risk of stroke-their lifestyle-related knowledge, behaviors, associated and influencing facilitators, and barriers to support brain health, which this study aimed to address. Methods: A qualitative interpretivist design was employed that was part of a larger quality improvement mixed-methods study. Data was collected through virtual, semi-structured focus groups. Inductive thematic analysis was performed and analyzed using the intersectionality framework. Results: A total of 11 women comprised the study sample who were of high stroke risk or had a stroke (mean age 53 years, 54.5 % stroke). A total of six themes emerged from the analysis: (1) lifestyle habits supporting holistic post-stroke recovery, (2) parenting-not being the same mother as before, (3) professional expectations-having to leave career behind and pressures to return, (4) societal expectations of women and permission to self-care, (5) psychological safety and comfort from women-centered interventions, and (6) experience in the healthcare system-not feeling seen, heard, or considered as a woman. Conclusions: Study findings have implications on three levels: 1)