Dr Tosin Popoola

Stillbirth, the loss of a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, is one of the most devastating losses a parent can experience. The experience of stillbirth is associated with trauma and intense grief, but mothers' belief systems can be protective against the impacts of grief. Women in Nigeria endure a high burden of stillbirth and the aim in this study was to describe the beliefs and strategies for coping with stillbirth. Twenty mothers bereaved by stillbirth in Nigeria were interviewed; seven of them also participated in a focus group. The findings of the study revealed that the experience of stillbirth was influenced by beliefs which originated from superstitions, religion, and social expectations. These beliefs played significant roles in how mothers coped with the loss, by providing them with a framework for sense-making and benefit-finding.

The loss of a baby to stillbirth is a traumatic experience and can lead to secondary losses, such as the loss of social relationships. In Nigeria, stillbirths are a common public health problem. However, limited attention has been given to the social ramifications of stillbirths. This study describes the social networks of women who have experienced a stillbirth and the factors influencing their social networks. Interviews and social network diagrams were used to collect data from 20 women about their social networks before and after stillbirth. Findings suggest that the experience of shame, unmet expectation of support, and a lack of trust led to relationship changes after stillbirth. Most participants met bereavement needs with their existing social networks before stillbirth, but many participants also experienced relationship losses (even among family networks). Information from social network analysis can reveal the risks and strengths inherent in social networks, which can be helpful for the provision of tailored/personalized bereavement care.

One impact of incurable HIV infection is the large number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who are affected by HIV. The age-based criteria used to determine support eligibility for HIV orphans, however, exclude older orphans (=18 years of age) from support. We conducted a literature survey in order to explore possible inclusion of older orphans (ages 18-24 years) in HIV orphanhood research. We found 17 studies conducted in eight countries that met the review inclusion criteria. Findings from the review revealed that older HIV orphans are underrepresented in the OVC literature. The emerging, but limited, evidence suggests that older orphans are at risk for poorer psychosocial and reproductive outcomes. We recommend increasing inclusion of older orphans in HIV orphan research because of their complex physical, reproductive, and psychosocial needs. This inclusion is necessary to allow their experiences and needs to become clearer.