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

Author

Listed:
  • Cayetano Fernández-Sola

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Spain
    Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 01090, Chile)

  • Marcos Camacho-Ávila

    (Hospital La Inmaculada, 04600 Huércal-Overa, Spain
    Hospital de Torrevieja, 03186 Torrevieja, Spain)

  • José Manuel Hernández-Padilla

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Spain
    School of Health and Education, Middlesex University, London NW4 4BH, UK)

  • Isabel María Fernández-Medina

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Spain)

  • Francisca Rosa Jiménez-López

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Spain)

  • Encarnación Hernández-Sánchez

    (Hospital de Torrevieja, 03186 Torrevieja, Spain
    Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de San Antonio de Murcia, 30107 Guadalupe de Maciascoque, Spain)

  • María Belén Conesa-Ferrer

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Murcia, 30003 Murcia, Spain)

  • José Granero-Molina

    (Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Spain
    Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 01090, Chile)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Cayetano Fernández-Sola & Marcos Camacho-Ávila & José Manuel Hernández-Padilla & Isabel María Fernández-Medina & Francisca Rosa Jiménez-López & Encarnación Hernández-Sánchez & María Belén Conesa-Ferre, 2020. "Impact of Perinatal Death on the Social and Family Context of the Parents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3421-:d:357993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Najman, Jake M. & Vance, John C. & Boyle, Fran & Embleton, Gary & Foster, Bill & Thearle, John, 1993. "The impact of a child death on marital adjustment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 1005-1010, October.
    2. Ying‐Fen Tseng & Hsiu‐Rong Cheng & Yu‐Ping Chen & Shu‐Fei Yang & Pi‐Tzu Cheng, 2017. "Grief reactions of couples to perinatal loss: A one‐year prospective follow‐up," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(23-24), pages 5133-5142, December.
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