An exploration of women’s lived experiences of care and support following perinatal death in South-Western Nigeria: A hermeneutic phenomenological study
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Perinatal death results in long-lasting intense grief for bereaved mothers with a potential to negatively impact on their short- and long-term outcomes and quality of life if inadequately supported in coping with and managing their experience. AIM: This study aimed at exploring the lived experience of women, of care and support following perinatal death in South-Western, Nigeria. METHODS: A qualitative methodology using Heideggerian phenomenology was used. Fourteen women who had experienced perinatal death in South-Western Nigeria within the last (5) five years were interviewed, and Van Manen's approach to hermeneutic phenomenology was used in data analysis. FINDINGS: Four main themes were identified: "they did not tell me the baby died", "response of health care professionals after the baby died", "moving on from hospital", and "support from family". The physical health status of mothers determined how they were informed of perinatal death. Health care professionals were distant, rude, nonempathetic and did not offer emotional support, in some cases. Mothers were given opportunity to see and hold their babies. There was no routine follow-up support in the community, besides a postnatal check-up appointment offered to all mothers regardless of their birth outcome. Family provided emotional support for mothers on discharge. CONCLUSION: This study was the first to explore the lived experience of women of the care and support following perinatal death in South-Western, Nigeria. There is a need for healthcare systems to review bereavement care and support provisions for women who experience perinatal death.
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Support from close family members, especially mothers, mothers-in-law, and siblings, played a central role in the emotional care and restructuring of these women, even when that support was expressed in rigid or culturally mediated ways.
“In addition, the research reinforces that support from close family members especially mothers, mothers-in-law, and siblings played a central role in the emotional care and restructuring of these women, even when that support was expressed in rigid or culturally mediated ways (47).”
From Experiences and long-term repercussions of perinatal grief in women after perinatal bereavement: a meta-ethnography (2025) · cites this paper as [47]
The ‘Gaining support from other family members’ passage (page unavailable) identifies siblings, mothers, and mothers-in-law as sources of sustained practical and emotional support. The account of mothers’ stern approaches also supports the claim that care could feel rigid. Our copy does not establish that this family support was culturally mediated or describe a broader process of emotional ‘restructuring.’ (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese results align with the literature, which pointed to delays in communicating the death, the use of vague terminology, and even withholding information under the pretext of 'protecting' the mother.
“These results align with the literature, which pointed to delays in communicating the death, the use of vague terminology, and even withholding information under the pretext of ‘protecting’ the mother (47).”
From Experiences and long-term repercussions of perinatal grief in women after perinatal bereavement: a meta-ethnography (2025) · cites this paper as [47]
The Findings and “Waiting to be told” sections report delays in telling mothers their babies had died. The section on deception describes withholding the news to limit perceived health risks while mothers recovered. The paper gives examples of evasive or false responses, but does not clearly identify the use of vague terminology as a distinct practice. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAbsence of empathic support tends to intensify suffering and negatively affect mothers' mental health.
“Conversely, as studies have shown, its absence tends to intensify suffering and negatively affect mothers’ mental health (47).”
From Experiences and long-term repercussions of perinatal grief in women after perinatal bereavement: a meta-ethnography (2025) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Kuforiji, O., Mills, T. A., & Lovell, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Kuforiji, Omotewa
- Venue
- Women and Birth
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-03
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 348-354
- ISSN
- 1871-5192 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4389137917
- Cited by
- 7
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 2.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Women and Birth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- LSTM Online Archive (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- perinatal death, maternal bereavement, grief, bereaved mothers, health care professional support, family support, bereavement support, postpartum follow-up, Southwest Nigeria
- MeSH terms
- Female, Grief, Humans, Mothers, Nigeria, Pregnancy, Quality of Life, Qualitative Research, Perinatal Death, Hermeneutics
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