"We are Not Magicians": Midwives' Experience of Stillbirth in Nigeria.

Abstract

Experiencing stillbirth in midwifery practice has a profound impact on midwives. However, midwives' experience of stillbirth remains under-explored, especially in Nigeria, where the burden of stillbirth remains one of the highest. This study describes the experiences of Nigerian midwives who have experienced a stillbirth in their midwifery practice. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 11 midwives between December 2022 and January 2023. Interviews were transcribed verbatim to explore midwives' experience of stillbirth and analysed using the template analysis technique. Three key themes were identified: (1) emotional and psychological reactions to stillbirth, (2) the impact of stillbirth on midwives, and (3) the support needs of midwives after a stillbirth. This study highlights that stillbirths strike at the core of professional identity and lead to negative self-concept and cautious-based practice. However, the working conditions of midwives in Nigeria do not support them to deal with the multidimensional impact of stillbirth.