Women's experiences of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly in Thailand: a phenomenological study

Chaloumsuk, Nonglak (2013) Women's experiences of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly in Thailand: a phenomenological study. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a major life event and the loss of pregnancy is an event with
potential for adverse psychological outcomes. Although the understanding of grief after
perinatal loss has progressed, there has been relatively little work specifically addressing
the loss after miscarriage and termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly.
Objectives: This study aimed to gain an understanding of experiences of miscarriage and
termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly among a group of Thai women
Study design: An interpretive phenomenology approach was taken using unstructured
interviews with 12 women who had undergone termination of pregnancy for fetal
anomaly and 11 women who had experienced miscarriage in Chiang Mai province,
Thailand. To gain the perspective of care the women received in the hospital, focus
groups with 10 doctors and 10 nurse-midwives were conducted.
Results: The data were analysed and interpreted using an Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis. The loss of hope is the essence of the women’s experiences
of miscarriage and therapeutic termination. Three themes emerged from both groups: 1)
facing the loss of hope, 2) gaining emotional balance, and 3) the need for intervention.
Although the main findings are similar, significant difference between them is the
context of pregnancy loss. While miscarriage is an inevitable event and needs urgent
treatment, the diagnosis of fetal anomaly leads the women to have a feeling of
ambivalence around the decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Conclusions: This study reinforces the difficulties that women have from the traumatic
events of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly. The women need
more in-depth knowledge and empathetic care from health professionals. Involving
family members to support women in the labour unit can reduce the feelings of loneliness
and insecurity.
Recommendations: Health care professionals need to be educated to provide
emotionally sensitive support for these women.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Nursing and Midwifery (former - to 2011)
Depositing User:	Users 2593 not found.
Date Deposited:	02 Dec 2013 14:18
Last Modified:	02 Dec 2013 14:18
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/45234
DOI:

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