Maternal Coping Mechanism and Its Associated Factors Following Perinatal Loss in Hospitals of Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia 2021

Abstract

Perinatal loss is the most painful and unanticipated experience for those who conceived and it is a major global concern worldwide, especially in developed countries like Ethiopia. Women who lost their pregnancy are believed to be at higher risk of developing severe grief following a loss. To reduce the risk of complications after perinatal loss, healthcare providers need to appreciate the grieving process and identify grief factors in mothers for early copying and to be managed promptly by providing adequate emotional, social, and psychological support. This study aimed to assess the level of maternal coping mechanisms and associated factors following perinatal loss in Hospitals of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia, 2021. A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from June 30/2021-August15/2021. Study participants were selected through systematic random sampling. Epi-data manager version 4.6 was used for template preparation and data entry and SPSS version 25 was used for analysis. Logistic regression was employed. The strength of association was declared at a p-value < 0.05 with 95% CI. Out of the total 393 participants, 51.4% had positive coping mechanisms whereas the rest, 48.6% had a poor coping mechanism following perinatal loss. Participants who have been satisfied with marriage (AOR = 5.64, 95% CI(3.10-10.29)), history of Antenatal care(ANC) follow-up(AOR = 2.52, 95% CI(1.39-4.57)), profession-based support(AOR = 2.91, 95% CI(1.64-5.15)), support from their own spiritual belief (AOR = 3.87, 95% CI(2.33-6.43)), support from their parents(AOR = 8.11, 95% CI(3.94-16.69)), support from their husband(AOR = 3.2, 95% CI (1.74-5.89)) and discussed/received information from those who had a history of loss(AOR = 2.65, 95% CI (1.31-5.32)) were some of the factors associated with positive maternal copying following perinatal loss. Maternal coping following the perinatal loss was relatively low. Thus, healthcare providers need to be more cautious and ensure mothers receive adequate care, and giving adequate emotional, social, and psychological support for them during grieving moments is essential.