The Relationships between Selected Factors and Maternal Grief after Termination of Pregnancy due to Fetal Anomalies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between selected factors including personal characteristics, experiences of pregnancy and birth, self- esteem, religious beliefs and social support, with maternal perinatal grief of 32 mothers at 1 month after termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomalies at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University during February 2013 to February 2014. The results showed that women’s desire for pregnancy was statistically associated with high maternal grief at .01. The number of previous perinatal loss was statistically correlated with maternal grief at .05 (r = - .376). When controlled maternal age, years of education and family income we found that duration spent to terminate a pregnancy and religious beliefs were statistically correlated with maternal grief at .01 and .05 respectively (r = .372, .483).

Therefore, it should provide an assessment of religious belief and maternal grief for counseling to reduce the impact on mother and family.