Understanding stillbirth stigma: A scoping literature review

Pollock, Danielle; Ziaian, Tahereh; Pearson, Elissa; Cooper, Megan; Warland, Jane

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.004

Cited by 39 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This taboo and undervaluation of grief was perceived by the mothers and fathers in the study when they received comments that trivialized their pain. This made this type of grief invisible, increasing the sensation of stigma [78,79]. Some families reported that there were people who shunned them and avoided talking about the subject, since this grief is different from other types of loss: no flowers are given, no cards are offered, there are no visits and there are no religious rituals to validate the grief [25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Perinatal Death on the Social and Family Context of the Parents

Fernández‐Sola

Camacho-Ávila

Hernández‐Padilla

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Background: Perinatal death (PD) is a painful experience, with physical, psychological and social consequences in families. Each year, there are 2.7 million perinatal deaths in the world and about 2000 in Spain. The aim of this study was to explore, describe and understand the impact of perinatal death on parents’ social and family life. Methods: A qualitative study based on Gadamer’s hermeneutic phenomenology was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 mothers and eight fathers who had suffered a perinatal death. Inductive analysis was used to find themes based on the data. Results: Seven sub-themes emerged, and they were grouped into two main themes: 1) perinatal death affects family dynamics, and 2) the social environment of the parents is severely affected after perinatal death. Conclusions: PD impacts the family dynamics of the parents and their family, social and work environments. Parents perceive that society trivializes their loss and disallows or delegitimizes their grief. Implications: Social care, health and education providers should pay attention to all family members who have suffered a PD. The recognition of the loss within the social and family environment would help the families to cope with their grief.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Perinatal Death on the Social and Family Context of the Parents

Fernández‐Sola

Camacho-Ávila

Hernández‐Padilla

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Every year 2.6 million babies are stillborn worldwide, and one in 150 babies die before or during birth in the United States (U.S.) alone [1]. Stillbirth is defined in the U.S. as the death of a baby from 20-weeks gestation to birth [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online yoga to reduce post traumatic stress in women who have experienced stillbirth: a randomized control feasibility trial

Huberty

Sullivan

Green

et al. 2020

BMC Complement Med Ther

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Background: About 1 in every 150 pregnancies end in stillbirth. Consequences include symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Yoga has been used to treat PTSD in other populations and may improve health outcomes for stillbirth mothers. The purpose of this study was to determine: (a) feasibility of a 12-week home-based, online yoga intervention with varying doses; (b) acceptability of a "stretch and tone" control group; and (c) preliminary efficacy of the intervention on reducing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, perinatal grief, self-compassion, emotional regulation, mindfulness, sleep quality, and subjective health. Methods: Participants (N = 90) were recruited nationally and randomized into one of three groups for yoga or exercise (low dose (LD), 60 min per week; moderate dose (MD), 150 min per week; and stretch-and-tone control group (STC)). Baseline and post-intervention surveys measured main outcomes (listed above). Frequency analyses were used to determine feasibility. Repeated measures ANCOVA were used to determine preliminary efficacy. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine a dose-response relationship between minutes of yoga and each outcome variable. Results: Over half of participants completed the intervention (n = 48/90). Benchmarks (≥70% reported > 75% satisfaction) were met in each group for satisfaction and enjoyment. Participants meeting benchmarks (completing > 90% of prescribed minutes 9/12 weeks) for LD and MD groups were 44% (n = 8/18) and 6% (n = 1/16), respectively. LD and MD groups averaged 44.0 and 77.3 min per week of yoga, respectively. The MD group reported that 150 prescribed minutes per week of yoga was too much. There were significant decreases in PTSD and depression, and improvements in self-rated health at post-intervention for both intervention groups. There was a significant difference in depression scores (p = .036) and grief intensity (p = .009) between the MD and STC groups. PTSD showed non-significant decreases of 43% and 56% at post-intervention in LD and MD groups, respectively (22% decrease in control). Conclusions: This was the first study to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an online yoga intervention for women after stillbirth. Future research warrants a randomized controlled trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02925481. Registered 10-04-16.

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“…Mothers, fathers and, sometimes, the wider family experienced public stigma as a result of stillbirth and particularly after multiple baby deaths. Self-stigma was also evident, where the fear of adverse community reactions after the death of the baby led women, in particular, to develop negative feelings which could decrease self-esteem and enhance social isolation [ 27 ]. Motherhood is identified as key expectation and central role for women in African societies and perinatal death, particularly where repeated, has been a trigger for marginalisation, relationship breakdown and sporadically, domestic abuse [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of cultural beliefs and practices on parents’ experiences of bereavement following stillbirth: a qualitative study in Uganda and Kenya

Ayebare

Lavender

Mweteise

et al. 2021

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Background Stillbirth is an extremely traumatic and distressing experience for parents, with profound and long-lasting negative impacts. Cultural beliefs and practices surrounding death vary considerably across different contexts and groups, and are a key influence on individual experiences, impacting grief, adjustment, and support needs. Few studies have explored cultural influences surrounding stillbirth in an African context. This study explored the influence of cultural beliefs and practices on the experiences of bereaved parents and health workers after stillbirth in urban and rural settings in Kenya and Uganda. Methods A qualitative descriptive study design was employed. Face to face interviews were conducted with parents (N = 134) who experienced a stillbirth (≤ 1 year) and health workers (N = 61) at five facilities in Uganda and Kenya. Interviews were conducted in English or the participants’ local language, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was conducted using descriptive thematic analysis. Results Commonalities in cultural beliefs and practices existed across the two countries. Three main themes were identified: 1) Gathering round, describes the collective support parents received from family and friends after stillbirth. 2)‘It is against our custom’ addresses cultural constraints and prohibitions impacting parents’ behaviour and coping in the immediate aftermath of the baby’s death. 3) ‘Maybe it’s God’s plan or witchcraft’ summarises spiritual, supernatural, and social beliefs surrounding the causes of stillbirth. Conclusions Kinship and social support helped parents to cope with the loss and grief. However, other practices and beliefs surrounding stillbirth were sometimes a source of stress, fear, stigma and anxiety especially to the women. Conforming to cultural practices meant that parents were prevented from: holding and seeing their baby, openly discussing the death, memory-making and attending the burial. The conflict between addressing their own needs and complying with community norms hindered parents’ grief and adjustment. There is an urgent need to develop culturally sensitive community programmes geared towards demystifying stillbirths and providing an avenue for parents to grieve in their own way.

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Understanding stillbirth stigma: A scoping literature review

Cited by 39 publications

References 36 publications

Impact of Perinatal Death on the Social and Family Context of the Parents

Impact of Perinatal Death on the Social and Family Context of the Parents

Online yoga to reduce post traumatic stress in women who have experienced stillbirth: a randomized control feasibility trial

The impact of cultural beliefs and practices on parents’ experiences of bereavement following stillbirth: a qualitative study in Uganda and Kenya

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