Underreporting of stillbirths in Pakistan: perspectives of the parents, community and healthcare providers

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Muhammad Zakria ZakarFlorian Fischer

Abstract

Pakistan has the highest rate of stillbirths globally. Not much attention has been given so far to exploring the sociocultural factors hindering the reportage of stillbirths and the causes of death. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the perspectives of parents, communities and healthcare providers regarding the sociocultural practices and health system-related factors contributing to stillbirths and their underreporting. This study used a qualitative approach including in-depth interviews and 14 focus group discussions to collect data from four districts of Pakistan. We conducted 285 in-depth interviews and 14 focus group discussions with health professionals - mainly active in the areas of maternal and child health - and parents who had experienced stillbirth. Constant comparative method and analytical induction method were performed to analyze the data. The results of this study show that stillbirth is frequently misclassified and, therefore, an underreported phenomenon in Pakistan. It is an outcome of sociocultural practices, such as the social meaning of stillbirth and their understanding about the conflict between cultural and medical anatomy. In addition to grief and psychological distress, it endangers the m...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 17, 2020·JAMA Network Open·Mudit KapoorS V Subramanian
Aug 14, 2019·Death Studies·Willyane de Andrade AlvarengaLucila Castanheira Nascimento
Dec 17, 2019·The Lancet Global Health·Gizachew Assefa Tessema, Gavin Pereira
Feb 10, 2021·Population Health Metrics·Doris KwesigaUNKNOWN Every Newborn-INDEPTH Study Collaborative Group
May 30, 2021·Nature Communications·Tao XueTong Zhu

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