Impact of holding the baby following stillbirth on maternal mental health and well-being: findings from a national survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To compare mental health and well-being outcomes at 3 and 9 months after the stillbirth among women who held or did not hold their baby, adjusting for demographic and clinical differences.

Design

Secondary analyses of data from a postal population survey.

Population

Women with a registered stillbirth in England in 2012.

Methods

468 eligible responses were compared. Differences in demographic, clinical and care characteristics between those who held or did not hold their infant were described and adjusted for in subsequent analysis. Mental health and well-being outcomes were compared, and subgroup comparisons tested hypothesised moderating factors.

Outcome measures

Self-reported depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom

SUBMITTER: Redshaw M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5013511 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature