A Study on the Bangladeshi Mothers' Experiences with Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD)
Deep Chowdhury
Department of Public Health, First Capital University of Bangladesh, Chuadanga-7200, Bangladesh.
Sazin Islam *
Department of Public Health, First Capital University of Bangladesh, Chuadanga-7200, Bangladesh.
Ripon Biswas
Department of Public Health, First Capital University of Bangladesh, Chuadanga-7200, Bangladesh.
Agro Bhowmik Jyoti
Department of Public Health, First Capital University of Bangladesh, Chuadanga-7200, Bangladesh.
Sonia Afroz Mukta
Department of Public Health, First Capital University of Bangladesh, Chuadanga-7200, Bangladesh.
Md. Shariful Islam
Department of Public Health, First Capital University of Bangladesh, Chuadanga-7200, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: IUFD (intrauterine fetal death/demise) is a devastating experience for moms. IUFD mothers run the danger of going through life feeling depressed, anxious, unhappy, and sorrowful. Therefore, it is essential to do research on how moms cope with such a terrible event.
Purpose: This study aimed to learn more about how mothers in Bangladesh dealt with intrauterine fetal death/demise (IUFD).
Methods: Using a phenomenological perspective, a purposive sample strategy was used to choose the seven informants for descriptive qualitative research. In-depth interviews were used to gather the data, which was then evaluated utilizing Colaizzi's approach.
Results: The findings revealed four key themes, including the mothers' reactions to a loss-such as painful and traumatic experiences—moral support received by the mother, unfavourable behaviour on the part of others, such as stigma and lack of support, and physical and psychological changes that interfere with the mothers' roles as wife and mother.
Conclusion: IUFD's past was very distressing for mothers, who were left with a heavy emotional weight. Support and therapeutic communication must thus be included in practice.
Keywords: IUFD, maternal experiences, support, Bangladesh