Death Rituals Reported by White, Black, and Hispanic Parents Following the ICU Death of an Infant or Child

Abstract

Purpose To examine rituals (disposing remains, wakes, funerals/burials, celebrations) of White, Black, Hispanic parents post ICU infant/child death. Design and methods Qualitative design, 63 parents completed English or Spanish semi-structured interviews at 7 & 13 months after infant’s/child’s death. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and entered into Atlas.ti for analysis. An inductive approach to thematization was used to develop codes. Results Parents: mean age 35.1 years (SD = 9.03); 33% Black, 27% White, 40% Hispanic; from 17 countries. Three themes emerged: immediately after death - shock and stress, needing help with arrangements, decisions on burial or cremation (conflicts due to finances, religion, culture), when and where to hold wakes, funerals/burials. Wakes and funerals - who prepares child’s body, appropriate dress (deceased child, mourners), who can come (cultural restrictions),-variations by child age, parent choice, culture, religion, country. After burial/cremation - being with family, milestone celebrations. Conclusion Child death is devastating for parents, other children, grandparents, and family members. Practice Implications. Rituals after child death require decisions about the child’s remains, wakes, funerals/burials at time of great pain for parents. This is especially true for newly immigrated parents and those with language barriers where making arrangements is especially hard and often very isolating. Health professionals who provide support need to be cognizant of practice differences based on religion, culture, economics, family traditions, and individual preference and provide as much support and resource as possible. A list of religious leaders representing the community’s cultures and funeral service providers who may provide lower cost burials/cremations is helpful.

Parent Grief 1–13 Months After Death in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units

“…The Western/Anglo medical model continues to place an emphasis on severing ties to the deceased, accepting the finality of death, and expecting grief to be a process that is both private and finite (Shapiro, 1995). Many Hispanic families believe in a spiritual and psychological continuity with the dead, a continuing relationship, nurtured by prayer, manifested in home shrines, candle lightings, graveside visits and formal mourning (Brooten et al, 2016; Clements et al, 2003; Lobar, Youngblut, & Brooten, 2006). Grief is resolved by the adaptation and life-long revision of the relationship between the deceased and the living (Whitaker et al, 2010).…”

School Aged Children’s Experiences 7 and 13 Months Following a Sibling’s Death

“…In addition, responses of children to a sibling’s death may vary since death is viewed and responded to differently according to religion and culture (Brooten et al 2016). In one study only Black non-Hispanic parents talked about the deceased being in heaven and/or with God (Youngblut and Brooten 2013).…”

Adolescents' Experiences 7 and 13 Months After the Death of a Brother or Sister

“…Elaborate and often lengthy gatherings after death of a family member are common and anticipated events following Black/African American funerals. 29 African Americans also maintain a stronger continuing bond with the deceased. 30 …”