Bereavement Care After Stillbirth in Uttar Pradesh: A Qualitative Analysis of the Present Situation, Challenges, and...

Bereavement care plays a crucial role in reducing the stress response in mothers who experience stillbirth. However, in India, the delivery of such care remains unregulated and inconsistent and lacks clear protocols and standards. The significant unmet need for bereavement care leads to dissatisfaction among both grieving mothers and caregivers. This study was conducted to assess existing bereavement care practices following stillbirth, identify the challenges faced by healthcare providers, and suggest possible solutions.

The present study is a qualitative analysis using the medium of in-depth interviews. We used a semi-structured, validated questionnaire and audio-video recording of the interviews. The questions pertained to the existing practices, awareness, challenges faced by healthcare providers and suggestions for improvement at micro- and macrolevel.

Using purposive sampling, we conducted 31 in-depth interviews of doctors and nursing staff involved in caring for women with stillbirth. Most of the subjects demonstrated lack of bereavement care awareness, discomfort in caring due to professional inexperience and the absence of training. There is no provision for care and counseling of healthcare providers who themselves undergo psychological trauma and mental stress when caring for such women.

Bereavement care after stillbirth is in its primitive stages in most of the care settings in India. Increasing awareness about stillbirth and bereavement care, making guidelines, conducting mandatory training for healthcare providers, and introducing "Bereavement companionship" model as a pilot project can provide initial steps toward betterment in care.