Danielle Pollock1, Tahereh Ziaian2, Elissa Pearson2, Megan Cooper3, Jane Warland3. 1. University of South Australia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, City East Campus, 108 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia. Electronic address: Danielle.Pollock@unisa.edu.au. 2. University of South Australia, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, St Bernards Rd, Magill SA 5072, Australia. 3. University of South Australia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, City East Campus, 108 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization, and the 2011 and 2016 Lancet Stillbirth series as well as medical and scientific literature, have all called for stillbirth stigma to be reduced. However, few studies have explored or attempted to conceptualise the meaning of stigma in the context of stillbirth. AIM: To explore the current knowledge surrounding stillbirth stigma, specifically the extent, type and experiences of bereaved parents. METHODS: A five-stage scoping review framework was utilised. A search of relevant databases (MedLine, EMBASE, PsychInfo, PsychArticles, and Ovid Emcare) was undertaken with several key words related to 'stillbirth' and 'stigma.' The reference lists of included studies were also searched. FINDINGS: A total of 23 resources met the inclusion criteria for this review. A thematic analysis regarding how stigma was conceptualised and/or experienced within results and/or discussion was employed on these studies. Five over-arching themes, with several sub-themes, were discovered: Type of stigma, identity, silence, bereaved mothers' experiences of stigma in low-income countries and transformation. DISCUSSION: Stillbirth stigma remains an under-researched topic. Few articles conceptualised the experiences of the bereaved parent within a stigma framework. However, examples of bereaved parents enduring stigma were found within the literature. Common stigmatising experiences included, bereaved parents' identities being challenged; and feelings of shame, guilt, and blame after their stillbirth. Stigmatising experiences could be different based on the bereaved parent's cultural background. CONCLUSION: Further research which attempts to conceptualise stillbirth stigma and explores those experiences from a bereaved parent perspective is needed to help inform stigma reduction strategies.
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization, and the 2011 and 2016 Lancet Stillbirth series as well as medical and scientific literature, have all called for stillbirth stigma to be reduced. However, few studies have explored or attempted to conceptualise the meaning of stigma in the context of stillbirth. AIM: To explore the current knowledge surrounding stillbirth stigma, specifically the extent, type and experiences of bereaved parents. METHODS: A five-stage scoping review framework was utilised. A search of relevant databases (MedLine, EMBASE, PsychInfo, PsychArticles, and Ovid Emcare) was undertaken with several key words related to 'stillbirth' and 'stigma.' The reference lists of included studies were also searched. FINDINGS: A total of 23 resources met the inclusion criteria for this review. A thematic analysis regarding how stigma was conceptualised and/or experienced within results and/or discussion was employed on these studies. Five over-arching themes, with several sub-themes, were discovered: Type of stigma, identity, silence, bereaved mothers' experiences of stigma in low-income countries and transformation. DISCUSSION: Stillbirth stigma remains an under-researched topic. Few articles conceptualised the experiences of the bereaved parent within a stigma framework. However, examples of bereaved parents enduring stigma were found within the literature. Common stigmatising experiences included, bereaved parents' identities being challenged; and feelings of shame, guilt, and blame after their stillbirth. Stigmatising experiences could be different based on the bereaved parent's cultural background. CONCLUSION: Further research which attempts to conceptualise stillbirth stigma and explores those experiences from a bereaved parent perspective is needed to help inform stigma reduction strategies.
Authors: Cayetano Fernández-Sola; Marcos Camacho-Ávila; José Manuel Hernández-Padilla; Isabel María Fernández-Medina; Francisca Rosa Jiménez-López; Encarnación Hernández-Sánchez; María Belén Conesa-Ferrer; José Granero-Molina Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-05-14 Impact factor: 3.390