UNDERSTANDING MATERNAL COPING AFTER PERINATAL LOSS: A STUDY OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN ASABA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Evaluation of Perinatal Loss Experience, Level of Support and Coping among Bereaved Mothers Attending Secondary Health Facilities in Asaba, Delta State. Three research questions guided the study. The design of the study was a qualitative and quantitative research design. The population of this study comprised an accessible population of 300 Bereaved Mothers

Attending Secondary Health Facilities in Asaba, Delta State while the sample size was 188 Bereaved Mothers Attending Secondary Health Facilities in Asaba, Delta State. The result revealed 25.5% of the respondents were between the age of 20 – 25years, 37.3% were between 26 – 30years, 21.4% were between 31 – 35years while 20.8% were between 36years and above, 54% of the respondents had between 1 – 3 children, while 46% had 4 children and above, 61.4% of the respondents had none, primary and secondary education, 22.5% had HND and B.Sc while 16.1% had master PhD and professional. The study further revealed that the women's experiences following perinatal loss were anger, psychological pain, grief and depression which are often neglected by health care provider. The study also revealed that the level of emotional and psychological support provided to perinatal loss bereaved mothers by healthcare workers and other family members were ranged from emotional support such as encouragement, counselling, and assistance. The coping mechanisms adopted were discussing with people and accepting the reality of fact that it has happened (stoicism). The study concluded that mothers who experienced a perinatal death were affected emotionally, physically, socially and economically. Unsupportive behavior of health care providers, financial constraints and feelings of guilt aggravated the grief reactions. This study therefore recommends that there is need to train health care providers in bereavement care, counselling and integration of psychological support system as a crucial part of health care delivery service to better support the grieving mothers navigate the grieving process and its associated complications