Experiences of Nurses and Midwives Who Support Bereaved Parents During Perinatal Deaths in Ghana: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Introduction Globally, perinatal death presents a profound challenge for healthcare and healthcare professionals, requiring enormous clinical expertise and mental fortitude. The complexity involved in balancing professionalism, empathy, and the human face pose significant emotional challenges for nurses and midwives. Perinatal deaths in Ghana remain high and have adversely impacted the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3. Nurses and midwives play a central role in the Ghanaian healthcare system, and understanding their experiences in providing care to grieving mothers can provide valuable data for enhancing bereavement support as well as promoting quality improvement in clinical care. Objective To explore the experiences of nurses and midwives who support bereaved parents during perinatal deaths in Ghana. Methodology A descriptive-phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of the participants. Twelve participants were purposively recruited from the neonatal and intensive care unit of a District Hospital in northern Ghana. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The data was analyzed iteratively using the thematic analysis approach. Findings Six themes emerged from the interviews with the study participants. The six themes were personal experience of perinatal death, emotional impact on the nurses and midwives, parental reactions and coping, blame and guilt, the impact on work, and long-lasting psychological impact. The themes reflect the emotional and practical experiences encountered by the nurses and midwives when supporting bereaved parents and the impact of such experiences on their well-being. Conclusion Perinatal bereavement support is a core responsibility of the nurses and midwives who work in maternal and neonatal units. Despite an improvement in perinatal death globally, the rates are still of great concern in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ironically, the experiences of nurses and midwives who support parents in times of perinatal death are lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study sheds light on the experiences of nurses and midwives who support parents during perinatal death in a Ghanaian context, highlighting the importance of supporting these healthcare professionals.