“You First Break the News to the Relative”: Stillbirth Bereavement Care Practices in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Nigeria has one of the highest rates of stillbirth in the world. Existing research about the state of bereavement care continues to paint a bleak picture. This study explores the stillbirth bereavement care practices of Nigerian midwives. Method: Purposive sampling was employed to recruit a sufficient sample of 11 Nigerian midwives, who were subsequently interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed using the template analysis technique, which involved the use of a coding template to organize themes. Results: Two main themes were identified: “Family-first, woman later” describes the practice of communicating stillbirth diagnoses to families before informing the woman; “Beliefs-driven care” describes the role of cultural values in facilitating some aspects of care, such as holistic care, while hindering other aspects such as memory-making. Discussion: Cultural beliefs influence stillbirth bereavement care practices. Clear clinical guidelines are needed to support midwives in managing cultural issues associated with stillbirth bereavement.