Mothers’ access to supportive hospital services after the loss of a baby through stillbirth or neonatal death

Abstract

Every year, 3-5% of pregnant mothers in South Africa lose their babies to a stillbirth or neonatal death. These mothers need adequate services to prevent complications in their grieving process. Most of these babies are lost in hospital settings, so the treatment medical staff provide is vital. This study examined mothers’ experiences of accessing hospital, religious, formal and social services after a stillbirth or neonatal death. An exploratory research design was used to conduct applied research. A semi-structured interview schedule was used with a sample of 15 mothers who had lost a baby in the last 5 years. The findings were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The primary focus of this article is the quantitative findings relating to hospital services. The sample was small and these results cannot be generalised, but some conclusions are reached and recommendations are made to service providers in hospitals working with mothers who have lost babies. Mothers generally experienced the support services from hospitals as inadequate, compared to what hospitals could offer. Mothers that receive support after the loss of a baby generally cope better. This support thus assists them in the grieving process. Hospital staff can be trained to provide these services.

Opsomming
In Suid-Afrika verloor 3-5% swanger moeders hulle babas deur stilgeboorte of neonatale dood. Hierdie moeders benodig voldoende dienste om komplikasies in die rouproses te verhoed. Die behandeling deur mediese personeel is uiters belangrik omdat die meeste van dié babas in ‘n hospitaalopset sterf. Hierdie studie het moeders se ervarings van die toeganklikheid van hospitaal-, godsdienstige, formele en sosiale dienste na die dood van hulle babas deur stilgeboorte of neonatale dood ondersoek. Toegepaste navorsing is met behulp van ‘n verkennende navorsingsontwerp gedoen. ‘n Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule is gebruik met ‘n steekproef van 15 moeders wat hulle babas in die vorige 5 jaar verloor het. Die bevindinge is kwantitatief en kwalitatief ontleed. Hierdie artikel fokus primêr op die kwantitatiewe bevindinge wat op hospitaaldienste van toepassing is. Die steekproef was klein en bevindinge kan nie veralgemeen word nie, maar gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings word gemaak vir diensverskaffers in hospitale wat met moeders werk wat hul babas verloor het. Respondente het die ondersteuningsdienste by hospitale oor die algemeen as onvoldoende ervaar in vergelyking met dít wat hospitale behoort aan te bied. Moeders wat wel ondersteuning na die verlies van ‘n baba ontvang, funksioneer oor die algemeen beter. Die ondersteuning help hulle in die rouproses. Hospitaalpersoneel kan opgelei word om hierdie dienste te verskaf.