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Subedi N, Kandel D, Ghale T, Gurung B, Shrestha B, Paudel S. Causes of perinatal mortality and associated maternal factors in a tertiary referral hospital of Gandaki province of Nepal: a cross-sectional study from a hospital-based surveillance. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:245. [PMID: 35331187 PMCID: PMC8952269 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04596-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perinatal and neonatal death rates have decreased recently but it still poses a major challenge to the health system of Nepal. The study was conducted to explore the pattern and causes of perinatal deaths. METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from September 2020 to June 2021 using the data of perinatal mortality of three years from June 15, 2017, to June 14, 2020. The demographic parameters of the mother consisted of maternal age, place of residence, ethnicity, antenatal care, the number of antenatal visits, gravida, gestational weeks, and the mode of delivery. The causes of death were categorized into fetal and early neonatal deaths. Fetal deaths were further classified as macerated stillbirth and fresh stillbirth. The attribution of the causes of deaths to fetal/neonatal and maternal conditions was done as per the guidelines of the WHO application of ICD-10 to deaths during the perinatal period. RESULTS There were a total of 145 perinatal deaths from 144 mothers among which 92 (63.5%) were males. Ten mothers (6.9%) had not sought even single antenatal care, whereas 32 (22.9%) had visited for antenatal care one to three times. At least one cause of death was identified in 114 (78.6%) and remained unknown in 31(21.4%) cases. Among the 28 cases of macerated stillbirths, the cause of death was not identified in 14 (50%), whereas preterm labor was attributed to the cause of death in four (14.3%). In 53 of the fresh stillbirths, intrapartum hypoxia was identified as the cause of death in 20 (37.7%) cases, preterm labor in nine (17%), and was left unknown in 15 (28.3%) cases. Among the 64 early neonatal deaths, prematurity was attributed as the cause of death in 32 (50%) cases, birth asphyxia, and infections each in 11 (17.2%). CONCLUSIONS The perinatal mortality surveillance system identified the causes of death in most of the cases in our observation. Prematurity was identified as the commonest cause of early neonatal deaths and preterm labor was the commonest cause responsible for perinatal deaths overall. The perinatal deaths should be investigated to establish exact causes of deaths which can be useful to develop prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuwadatta Subedi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal.
| | - Dipendra Kandel
- Green Pastures Hospital - International Nepal Fellowship, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Tumaya Ghale
- Department of Anesthesiology, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Bandana Gurung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Bandana Shrestha
- Department of Pediatrics, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Sabita Paudel
- Department of Pharmacology, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
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Subedi N, Bhattarai S, Mremi A, Ntakirutimana G, Ndayisaba MC, Rugwizangoga B, Mbarushimana D, Hategekimana E, Tuyizere V, Paganelli C. Building Capacity and Infrastructure at Hospitals Implementing Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling: Experience and Lessons Learned From Nepal, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:S396-S400. [PMID: 34910170 PMCID: PMC8672746 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a useful tool to determine cause of death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2019 the MITS Surveillance Alliance supported the implementation of small-scale postmortem studies using MITS in several LMICs. METHODS In this article we describe the preparations, challenges, and lessons learned as part of implementing MITS across 4 study sites in 3 countries: Nepal, Rwanda, and Tanzania. We describe the process for building capacity to conduct MITS, which consisted of training in MITS sample collection, individual site assessment to determine readiness and gaps prior to implementation, site visits as sites began implementation of MITS, and feedback based on remote evaluation of histology slides via an online portal. RESULTS The 4 study sites each conducted 100 MITS, for a total of 400. All 4 sites lacked sufficient infrastructure and facilities to conduct MITS, and upgrades were required. Common challenges faced by sites included that clinical autopsies were neither routinely conducted nor widely accepted. Limited clinical records made cause of death determination more difficult. Lessons learned included the importance of sensitization of the community and medical staff to MITS to enhance understanding and increase consent. CONCLUSIONS The study sites accomplished MITS and utilized the available support systems to overcome the challenges. The quality of the procedures was satisfactory and was facilitated through the organized capacity-building programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuwadatta Subedi
- Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Suraj Bhattarai
- Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Center, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
- Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Alex Mremi
- Department of Pathology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
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Tikmani SS, Saleem S, Moore JL, Reza S, Gowder G, Dhaded S, Yogesh Kumar S, Goudar SS, Kulkarni V, Kumar S, Acetuino A, Parlberg L, McClure EM, Goldenberg RL. Factors Associated With Parental Acceptance of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling to Identify the Causes of Stillbirth and Neonatal Death. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:S422-S429. [PMID: 34910175 PMCID: PMC8963158 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a noninvasive technique used to determine the cause of deaths. Very little is known about the factors that affect MITS acceptance or refusal. We present findings from a prospective study conducted in Southeast Asia on the reasons for accepting or refusing MITS. Methods This substudy was conducted in India and Pakistan to determine the acceptability of MITS in women who had a stillbirth or preterm live birth who later died. A formal questionnaire was used to gather observations during the consent for MITS, such as reasons for acceptance or refusal of MITS, as well as which family members were involved in the decision process. Results In Pakistan, the MITS acceptability forms were completed for 470 of 477 women (98.5%) with an eligible stillbirth for this substudy, and 334 of 337 (99.1%) with an eligible preterm neonatal death. In India, MITS acceptability forms were completed in 219 of 305 women (71.8%) with an eligible stillbirth and 260 of 264 (98.4%) with an eligible preterm neonatal death. In India, the most common reasons for MITS refusal for both stillbirths and preterm neonatal deaths were cultural concerns, while in Pakistan, the most common reason for MITS refusal was a potential delay in the funeral. The primary reason for accepting MITS was that the parents wanted to understand the cause of death. At both sites, fathers, mothers, and relatives, often in consultation, choose whether or not to accept MITS to determine the cause of death in stillbirths and preterm neonatal deaths. Conclusions MITS was more commonly accepted in India than in Pakistan. Cultural concerns in India and funeral delays in Pakistan were common reasons for refusal. Parents from both sites were curious to know the cause of stillbirths and preterm neonatal deaths. The father, mother, and relatives were key decision makers for consenting to or declining MITS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Saleem
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Sayyeda Reza
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Sangappa Dhaded
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, India
| | - S Yogesh Kumar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, India
| | - Shivaprasad S Goudar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert L Goldenberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Rugwizangoga B, Niyibizi JB, Ndayisaba MC, Musoni E, Manirakiza F, Uwineza A, Tuyisenge L, Nyundo M, Hategekimana T, Ntakirutimana G. Exploring Perceptions and Acceptance of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling among Bereaved Relatives and Health-Care Professionals in Rwanda. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:3421-3427. [PMID: 34938081 PMCID: PMC8685444 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s340428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose In most low- and lower middle-income countries (LMICs), minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a relatively new procedure for identifying the cause of death (CoD). This study aimed to explore perceptions and acceptance of bereaved families and health-care professionals regarding MITS in the context of MITS initiation in Rwanda as an alternative to clinical autopsy. Methods This was a qualitative phenomenological study with thematic analysis. Participants were bereaved relatives (individual interviews) and health-care professionals (focus-group discussions) involved in MITS implementation. It was conducted in the largest referral and teaching hospital in Rwanda. Results Motivators of MITS acceptance included eagerness to know the CoD, noninvasiveness of MITS, trust in medics, and the fact that it was free. Barriers to consent to MITS included inadequate explanations from health-care professionals, high socioeconomic status, lack of power to make decisions, and lack of trust in medics. Health-care professionals perceived both conventional autopsy and MITS as gold-standard procedures in CoD determination. They recommended including MITS among hospital services and commended the post-MITS multidisciplinary discussion panel in CoD determination. They pointed out that there might be reticence in approaching bereaved relatives to obtain consent for MITS. Both groups of participants highlighted the issue of delay in releasing MITS results. Conclusion Both health-care professionals and bereaved relatives appreciate that MITS is an acceptable procedure to include in routine hospital services. Dealing with barriers met by either group is to be considered in the eventual next phases of MITS implementation in Rwanda and similar sociocultural contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belson Rugwizangoga
- Department of Clinical Biology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
- Correspondence: Belson Rugwizangoga PO Box 655, Kigali, Rwanda, Tel +250-78-854-6597 Email ;
| | | | | | - Emile Musoni
- Department of Clinical Biology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Felix Manirakiza
- Department of Clinical Biology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Annette Uwineza
- Department of Clinical Biology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Pathology, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Lisine Tuyisenge
- Department of Pediatrics, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Martin Nyundo
- Department of Surgery, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
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Tanko NM, Bakytkaly I, Issanov A, Poddighe D, Terzic M. Validating a Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) Method in Determining Cause of Death in Stillbirths and Neonates. CHILDREN 2021; 8:children8121095. [PMID: 34943291 PMCID: PMC8700338 DOI: 10.3390/children8121095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA) remains the gold standard and a valuable technique for determining cause of death. It is a source of health statistics that can be used to measure health care services’ quality, unraveling important information on disease processes, particularly in emerging and unknown diseases. It can also be a vital tool for medical education and biomedical research. However, autopsy rates have been declining globally. There is an urgent need to develop and validate alternative methods in different settings to provide reliable information on cause of death. In this study, we aimed to determine cause of death (KazCoDe) in neonates and infants using minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), and to compare these results with those of CDA. We conducted MITS and CDA sequentially on 24 deceased children at the Pathological Bureau of the Akimat of the city of Nur-Sultan. Clinical data of the study subjects were extracted from their clinical records. During both procedures, brain, liver and lung tissues were collected for pathological diagnosis. Fifteen (62.5%) and nine (37.5%) were stillbirths and neonates, respectively. Eight (33.3%) were females and 16 (66.7%) were males. MITS diagnosis of cause of death was concordant with CDA diagnosis in 83.3% out of the 24 cases when considering the immediate and underlying causes of death and reviewing all the clinical and laboratory test results as part of the diagnostic evaluation to arrive at a cause of death (ICD-PM). We concluded that MITS is a valuable and reliable method for cause of death diagnosis in stillbirths and neonates, which can contribute vital mortality statistics in children in the absence of CDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naanlep Matthew Tanko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan;
- Clinical Academic Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pathology and Genetics, University Medical Center, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-775-658-6325
| | - Ibrayimov Bakytkaly
- Clinical Academic Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pathology and Genetics, University Medical Center, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan;
| | - Alpamys Issanov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan;
| | - Dimitri Poddighe
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (D.P.); (M.T.)
- Clinical Academic Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Milan Terzic
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (D.P.); (M.T.)
- Clinical Academic Department of Women’s Health, University Medical Center, Nur Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Das MK, Arora NK, Debata P, Chellani H, Rasaily R, Gaikwad H, Meena KR, Kaur G, Malik P, Joshi S, Kumari M. Why parents agree or disagree for minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) to identify causes of death in under-five children and stillbirth in North India: a qualitative study. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:513. [PMID: 34784903 PMCID: PMC8597286 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02993-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Information on exact causes of death and stillbirth are limited in low and middle income countries. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is increasingly practiced in place of autopsy across several settings. A formative research documented the experiences of counselling and consenting for MITS in north India. Methods This exploratory qualitative study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. During the early implementation of MITS, observations of the counselling and consenting process (n = 13) for under-five child death and stillbirths were conducted. In-depth interviews with MITS team members (n = 3) were also conducted. Observation and interview data were transcribed and inductively analysed using thematic content analysis to identify emerging themes and codes. Results The MITS team participated in daily ward rounds for familiarisation with parents/families. Following death declaration the counselling was done in counselling corner of the ward or adjacent corridor. Mostly the counselling was targeted at the father and family members present, using verbal explanation and the consent document in local language. The key concerns raised by parents/family were possible disfigurement, time needed and possible benefits. Most of the parents consulted family members before consent. Among those who consented, desire for next pregnancy, previous pregnancy or neonatal loss and participation of treating senior doctor were the key factors. The negative experience of hospital care, poor comprehension and distance from residence were the factors for consent refusal. Lesser number of parents of deceased children consented for MITS compared to the neonates and stillbirths. Conclusions The initial experiences of obtaining consent for MITS were encouraging. Consent for MITS may be improved with active involvement of the treating doctors and nurses, better bereavement support, private counselling area along with improvement in quality of care and communication during hospitalisation. Special efforts and refinement in counselling are needed to improve consent for MITS in older children. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-021-02993-6. Information about exact cause of death and stillbirth are essential for appropriate care of children and pregnant women. Autopsy assists in establishing exact cause of death, but not preferred by the parents/families. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a suitable alternate to autopsy for establishing causes of death and stillbirth. A pilot project on MITS was initiated at a tertiary care hospital in north India (New Delhi). An exploratory formative research was conducted to document the experiences of counselling and consenting for MITS. Under this study, observation of the counselling and consenting process for conduct of MITS in under-five children (including neonates) and stillbirths were done. Additionally, in-depth interviews with MITS team members were also conducted. Counselling for MITS was done in one corner of the ward or adjacent corridor and mostly targeted at the father and family members present. Counselling was primarily verbal explanation in local language. The key concerns from parents/family were disfigurement, time needed and possible benefits. Most of the parents consulted family members before decision. Benefit during next pregnancy, past previous pregnancy or neonatal loss and senior treating doctor’s involvement were key factors for consent. Poor quality of care and comprehension were the reasons for refusal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pradeep Debata
- Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Harish Chellani
- Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Reeta Rasaily
- Division of Division of Reproductive Biology Maternal and Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Harsha Gaikwad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - K R Meena
- Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Gurkirat Kaur
- The INCLEN Trust International, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | | | - Shipra Joshi
- The INCLEN Trust International, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Mahisha Kumari
- The INCLEN Trust International, New Delhi, 110020, India
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Lawrence S, Namusanya D, Hamuza A, Huwa C, Chasweka D, Kelley M, Molyneux S, Voskuijl W, Denno DM, Desmond N. Hypothetical acceptability of hospital-based post-mortem pediatric minimally invasive tissue sampling in Malawi: The role of complex social relationships. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246369. [PMID: 33539411 PMCID: PMC7861399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child mortality rates remain unacceptably high in low-resource settings. Cause of death (CoD) is often unknown. Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS)-using biopsy needles to obtain post-mortem samples-for histopathological and microbiologic investigation is increasingly being promoted to improve child and adult CoD attribution. "MITS in Malawi" is a sub-study of the Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, which aims to identify biological and socioeconomic mortality risk factors among young children hospitalized for acute illness or undernutrition. MITS in Malawi employs standard MITS and a novel post-mortem endoscopic intestinal sampling approach to better understand CoD among children with acute illness and/or malnutrition who die during hospitalization. AIM To understand factors that may impact MITS acceptability and inform introduction of the procedure to ascertain CoD among children with acute illness or malnutrition who die during hospitalization in Malawi. METHODS We conducted eight focus group discussions with key hospital staff and community members (religious leaders and parents of children under 5) to explore attitudes towards MITS and inform consent processes prior to commencing the MITS in Malawi study. We used thematic content analysis drawing on a conceptual framework developed from emergent themes and MITS acceptability literature. RESULTS Feelings of power over decision-making within the hospital and household, trust in health systems, and open and respectful health worker communication with parents were important dimensions of MITS acceptability. Other facilitating factors included the potential for MITS to add CoD information to aid sense-making of death and contribute to medical knowledge and new interventions. Potential barriers to acceptability included fears of organ and blood harvesting, disfigurement to the body, and disruption to transportation and burial plans. CONCLUSION Social relationships and power dynamics within healthcare systems and households are a critical component of MITS acceptability, especially given the sensitivity of death and autopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lawrence
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Dave Namusanya
- Behaviour and Health Research Group, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Andrew Hamuza
- Behaviour and Health Research Group, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Cornelius Huwa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, C/o KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dennis Chasweka
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, C/o KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Maureen Kelley
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, C/o KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Wellcome Centre for Ethics & Humanities and Ethox Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sassy Molyneux
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, C/o KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Wellcome Centre for Ethics & Humanities and Ethox Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Wieger Voskuijl
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, C/o KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Centre for Global Child Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Donna M. Denno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, C/o KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nicola Desmond
- Behaviour and Health Research Group, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Das MK, Arora NK, Gaikwad H, Chellani H, Debata P, Rasaily R, Meena KR, Kaur G, Malik P, Joshi S, Kumari M. Grief reaction and psychosocial impacts of child death and stillbirth on bereaved North Indian parents: A qualitative study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240270. [PMID: 33503017 PMCID: PMC7840017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grief following stillbirth and child death are one of the most traumatic experience for parents with psychosomatic, social and economic impacts. The grief profile, severity and its impacts in Indian context are not well documented. This study documented the grief and coping experiences of the Indian parents following stillbirth and child death. METHODS This exploratory qualitative study in Delhi (India) included in-depth interviews with parents (50 mothers and 49 fathers), who had stillbirth or child death, their family members (n = 41) and community representatives (n = 12). Eight focus group discussions were done with community members (n = 72). Inductive data analysis included thematic content analysis. Perinatal Grief Scale was used to document the mother's grief severity after 6-9 months of loss. RESULTS The four themes emerged were grief anticipation and expression, impact of the bereavement, coping mechanism, and sociocultural norms and practices. The parents suffered from disbelief, severe pain and helplessness. Mothers expressed severe grief openly and some fainted. Fathers also had severe grief, but didn't express openly. Some parents shared self-guilt and blamed the hospital/healthcare providers, themselves or family. Majority had no/positive change in couple relationship, but few faced marital disharmony. Majority experienced sleep, eating and psychological disturbances for several weeks. Mothers coped through engaging in household work, caring other child(ren) and spiritual activities. Fathers coped through avoiding discussion and work and professional engagement. Fathers resumed work after 5-20 days and mothers took 2-6 weeks to resume household chores. Unanticipated loss, limited family support and financial strain affected the severity and duration of grief. 57.5% of all mothers and 80% mothers with stillbirth had severe grief after 6-9 months. CONCLUSIONS Stillbirth and child death have lasting psychosomatic, social and economic impacts on parents, which are usually ignored. Sociocultural and religion appropriate bereavement support for the parents are needed to reduce the impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Harsha Gaikwad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India
| | - Harish Chellani
- Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India
| | - Pradeep Debata
- Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India
| | - Reeta Rasaily
- Division of Division of Reproductive Biology Maternal and Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - K. R. Meena
- Department of Pediatrics, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Shipra Joshi
- The INCLEN Trust International, New Delhi, India
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