Women's Experiences of Coping With Pregnancy Termination for Fetal Abnormality

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4677154
AutoresCaroline Lafarge (0000-0003-2148-078X, University of West London, London, United Kingdom), Kathryn Mitchell (0000-0002-1230-4285, University of West London, London, United Kingdom), Pauline Fox (0000-0001-9819-1156, University of West London, London, United Kingdom)
Ano2013
Volume23
Fascículo7
Páginas924-936
Data de publicação2013-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732313484198
PMID23558712
OpenAlexW2134640289
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas24
Referências citadas51

Pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality (TFA) can have significant psychological consequences. Most previous research has been focused on measuring the psychological outcomes of TFA, and little is known about the coping strategies involved. In this article, we report on women's coping strategies used during and after the procedure. Our account is based on experiences of 27 women who completed an online survey. We analyzed the data using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Coping comprised four structures, consistent across time points: support, acceptance, avoidance, and meaning attribution. Women mostly used adaptive coping strategies but reported inadequacies in aftercare, which challenged their resources. The study's findings indicate the need to provide sensitive, nondirective care rooted in the acknowledgment of the unique nature of TFA. Enabling women to reciprocate for emotional support, promoting adaptive coping strategies, highlighting the potential value of spending time with the baby, and providing long-term support (including during subsequent pregnancies) might promote psychological adjustment to TFA

Abnormality · Attribution · Avoidance coping · Developmental psychology · Emotional support · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Pregnancy · Qualitative research · Social support · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions · Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics · Psychology · Social Psychology