Perinatal Bereavement Support for Parents from Ethnic Minorities
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Bereavement Support After Mid-trimester Pregnancy Loss, Stillbirth, and Neonatal Death, for Parents from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds in Liverpool, UK.
IRAS ID
330769
Contact name
Sian Rogers
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
Perinatal loss can be a devastating life event for parents, the psychological and social effects of which are multi-faceted and far reaching. Women from ethnic minority backgrounds are disproportionately affected by pregnancy loss, increasing the likelihood that they will develop psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Despite this inequality, there is a lack of research into, and provision of bereavement care and support tailored to parents from ethnic minority backgrounds. Tailored bereavement support is protective of mental wellbeing. Given that mental health is a leading cause of maternal death in pregnancy and the first postnatal year, research in this area is essential.
This research aims to generate evidence surrounding availability, access to and experiences of bereavement support interventions for parents from ethnic minority backgrounds, in Liverpool, who have experienced any of the following in the last 12 months:
• Mid trimester pregnancy loss (between 12- and 24-weeks’ gestation)
• Stillbirth (fetal death after 24 weeks of pregnancy up until or during birth)
• Neonatal death (death of a baby in the first 28 days of life)Parents will be invited to compile photographs over 6-8 weeks that reflect their experiences of perinatal bereavement support in Liverpool. These photos will be used to generate conversation in an interview.
Key stakeholders (individuals whose social/professional positions give them specialist information about perinatal loss services and/or ethnic minority groups in Liverpool) will also be interviewed about their experiences of supporting parents, commissioning, or leading bereavement support services, or of working with ethnic minority groups in Liverpool.
By providing understanding of existing provision of bereavement support and insight into the experience of parents from ethnic minority backgrounds in Liverpool, this research will contribute to development and evaluation of culturally acceptable interventions, and inform policy and practice supporting effective bereavement care, reducing ethnic inequalities in provision of care.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0330
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion