Development of a model to support women who had Intrauterine Fetal Death in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province South Africa

Abstract

Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD) is common in all parts of the world and South Africa not exempted. Woman who had IUFD are at risk of suffering from mental health problems if professional support is not given. In South Africa, during the study, the maternity guidelines focused on the support for women with live-babies and the prevention of IUFD, but remain silent on the support for women with IUFD.The purpose of this study was to develop a model to support women who had IUFD, in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative approach using explorative, descriptive and contextual designs was adopted. Purposive sampling of the district, hospitals and participants was done. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically. Two themes, experiences of women who had IUFD and needed support as perceived by women who had IUFD, were revealed in phase 1 of the study. Phase 1, findings formed the basis for phase 2, the model development. In phase 1 of the study, the theory used to guide the study was aligned to King’s interacting systems framework, and in phase 2, Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach’s (1968) six elements of practice theory guided the development of the model, and Chinn and Krammer’s (1999) theory guided the evaluation of the model. Evaluation of the model was done by purposively sampled evaluators. Guidelines to operationalize the model were developed according to the context, agents, recipients, dynamics and the procedures. Ethical considerations and measures of trustworthiness were observed throughout the study. The recommendations of this study are based on nursing practice, nursing education and for further research.