Women's experiences of coping with pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality.
Abstract
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.Citation
Lafarge, C, Mitchell, K, & Fox, P 2013, 'Women's experiences of coping with pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality',Qualitative Health Research, 23, 7, pp. 924-936Publisher
SageJournal
Qualitative Health ResearchDOI
10.1177/1049732313484198Additional Links
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1049732313484198Type
ArticleISSN
10497323ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/1049732313484198