Page 145 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, Boštjan Žvanut, eds. 2017. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije ▪︎ Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 145
Women‘s experiences with perinatal
loss of a child
Teja Novak1, Doroteja Rebec2
1 Community Health Center Vrhnika, Cesta 6. maja 11, 1360 Vrhnika, Slovenia
2 University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing,
Polje 42 6310 Izola, Slovenia
teja.novak@zd-vrhnika.si; doroteja.rebec@fvz.upr.si
Abstract
Introduction: Perinatal death is an extremely sensitive area in a parents‘
life since it is considered to be the most painful of losses. From health
care professionals it requires expert and compassionate treatment
that will help parents in the process of coping with the loss of a child.
Health care professionals should be able to listen and to be receptive to
parents‘ needs and not become insensitive to their grief. The purpose
of the research was to gain insight into the experiences of women in
Slovenian maternity hospitals who have experienced the loss of a child
in the perinatal period. Methods: A quantitative research approach
was based on an online survey convenience sample of women (n =
114) who have experienced the loss of a child in the perinatal period.
Women were previously requested to participate via online forums and
groups where they also get a link to the online survey. The survey was
conducted from January to June 2015. The data were analyzed using
basic descriptive statistics. Results: The results showed that the majority
of women which have experienced perinatal loss of a child, wants to
talk about their experience. Health care professionals have been mostly
empathic, respectful and supportive to them in the treatment. Despite
the fact that health care professionals are sensitive to the needs and
aspirations of women and respect their feelings, their professional
behavior in emotionally demanding situations was more reserved, which
is against the wishes and women‘s needs. This is sometimes due to the
way of working, which allows and encourages more rigid professional
behavior. Discussion and conclusions: In the area of perinatal palliative
care there is the need to further improve understanding of the needs
of grieving parents among health care professionals and additionally
trainings to work with bereaved parents. It is also necessary to overcome
the shortcomings in the system of treatment to be more supportive to
grieving parents.
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7023-32-9.143-148
loss of a child
Teja Novak1, Doroteja Rebec2
1 Community Health Center Vrhnika, Cesta 6. maja 11, 1360 Vrhnika, Slovenia
2 University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing,
Polje 42 6310 Izola, Slovenia
teja.novak@zd-vrhnika.si; doroteja.rebec@fvz.upr.si
Abstract
Introduction: Perinatal death is an extremely sensitive area in a parents‘
life since it is considered to be the most painful of losses. From health
care professionals it requires expert and compassionate treatment
that will help parents in the process of coping with the loss of a child.
Health care professionals should be able to listen and to be receptive to
parents‘ needs and not become insensitive to their grief. The purpose
of the research was to gain insight into the experiences of women in
Slovenian maternity hospitals who have experienced the loss of a child
in the perinatal period. Methods: A quantitative research approach
was based on an online survey convenience sample of women (n =
114) who have experienced the loss of a child in the perinatal period.
Women were previously requested to participate via online forums and
groups where they also get a link to the online survey. The survey was
conducted from January to June 2015. The data were analyzed using
basic descriptive statistics. Results: The results showed that the majority
of women which have experienced perinatal loss of a child, wants to
talk about their experience. Health care professionals have been mostly
empathic, respectful and supportive to them in the treatment. Despite
the fact that health care professionals are sensitive to the needs and
aspirations of women and respect their feelings, their professional
behavior in emotionally demanding situations was more reserved, which
is against the wishes and women‘s needs. This is sometimes due to the
way of working, which allows and encourages more rigid professional
behavior. Discussion and conclusions: In the area of perinatal palliative
care there is the need to further improve understanding of the needs
of grieving parents among health care professionals and additionally
trainings to work with bereaved parents. It is also necessary to overcome
the shortcomings in the system of treatment to be more supportive to
grieving parents.
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7023-32-9.143-148
