Coping with stillbirth: Insights from parents in rural Limpopo, South Africa
Background: Stillbirth continues to be a significant global public health issue. Effective coping mechanisms are essential for parents to process their grief and heal after a stillbirth. However, research on how South African parents, particularly in rural areas, cope with stillbirth is limited. Ai...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/1250 |
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| Summary: | Background: Stillbirth continues to be a significant global public health issue. Effective coping mechanisms are essential for parents to process their grief and heal after a stillbirth. However, research on how South African parents, particularly in rural areas, cope with stillbirth is limited.
Aim: This study explored the coping mechanisms used by parents following stillbirth, using the Transactional Model.
Setting: The study was conducted in the Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa.
Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was employed, involving in-depth interviews with 12 purposively selected parents. Data were collected in the participants’ preferred language, Xitsonga, then transcribed, translated into English and thematically analysed using Atlas.ti.
Results: Emotion-focused coping strategies centred on acceptance, avoidance, reframing the loss, sharing experiences of stillbirth, receiving support from healthcare professionals and seeking prayer and spiritual guidance. In contrast, the problem-focused coping strategy involved distraction through meaningful activities.
Conclusion: Despite employing all these strategies, unresolved grief may still impede effective coping.
Contribution: The study emphasises the significance of multidisciplinary care that integrates psychological, social, and spiritual support to address the complex emotional needs of grieving parents |
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| ISSN: | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |