Mothers' Experiences of Stillbirth: A Study in the Accra Metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to explore and record experiences of mothers who lost their babies during delivery. Fourteen mothers in the Accra Metropolis were recruited, through purposive sampling, interviewed in English, Ga or Akan languages, using a semi- structured interview guide and analysed through content analysis. News of stillbirth and observing the dead babies is a painful experience for mothers; they mourn in unique ways based on their faith and or beliefs. Mourning in excess and talking about stillbirth is seen as a potential for sterility and invitation for a recurrence. The urgency to attend to clients has been observed as deficient and communication gaps have been recorded. There is no organised institutional support in time of their loss; available support was basically emotional in the form of encouragement and pieces of advice in addition to self- motivation which finally results in a normal grief process leading to a quick bio- psychosocial recovery. Women who declined to be recruited as well as those who turned down the interview appointment could be in a psychologically challenging state therefore avoiding the researcher. There is the need for a customised stillbirth management protocol by stakeholders; a training programme on bereavement services is advocated for service providers.