Lafarge, Caroline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2148-078X, Mitchell, Kathryn and Fox, Pauline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0046-4940 (2013) Women's experiences of coping with pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality. Qualitative Health Research, 23 (7). pp. 924-936. ISSN 1049-7323

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1177/1049732313484198
Additional Information:	The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Qualitative Health Research, Vol 23, Issue 7, 2013 by Sage Publications Ltd, All rights reserved. © SAGE Publications Ltd, 2013. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732313484198.
Keywords:	abortion; bereavement / grief; coping and adaptation; interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); lived experience; perinatal health; pregnancy; psychology; research, online; research, qualitative
Subjects:	Psychology
Depositing User:	Caroline Lafarge
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2016 13:44
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 12:19
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1891

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