Nursing Interventions to Facilitate the Grieving Process after Perinatal Death: A Systematic Review

Alba Fernández-Férez, Maria Isabel Ventura-Miranda, Marcos Camacho-Ávila, Antonio Fernández-Caballero, José Granero-Molina, Isabel María Fernández-Medina and María del Mar Requena-Mullor
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Alba Fernández-Férez: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Distrito Sanitario Almería, 04009 Almería, Spain
Maria Isabel Ventura-Miranda: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Marcos Camacho-Ávila: Obstetrics Service, Hospital La Inmaculada, 04600 Huércal-Overa, Spain
Antonio Fernández-Caballero: Faculty of Nursing, Univesity of Cádiz, 11207 Algeciras, Spain
José Granero-Molina: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Isabel María Fernández-Medina: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
María del Mar Requena-Mullor: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: Perinatal death is the death of a baby that occurs between the 22nd week of pregnancy (or when the baby weighs more than 500 g) and 7 days after birth. After perinatal death, parents experience the process of perinatal grief. Midwives and nurses can develop interventions to improve the perinatal grief process. The aim of this review was to determine the efficacy of nursing interventions to facilitate the process of grief as a result of perinatal death. A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Studies that met the selection criteria underwent a quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Four articles were selected out of the 640 found. Two are quasi-experimental studies, and two are randomized controlled clinical studies. The interventions that were analyzed positively improve psychological self-concept and role functions, as well as mutual commitment, depression, post-traumatic stress and symptoms of grief. These interventions are effective if they are carried out both before perinatal loss and after it has occurred. The support of health professionals for affected parents, their participation in the loss, expressing feelings and emotions, using distraction methods, group sessions, social support, physical activity, and family education are some of the effective interventions.

Keywords: perinatal death; perinatal loss; perinatal grief; nursing; midwifery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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