Author: Sefton, Marlene

Source: Hispanic Health Care International, Volume 5, Number 1, 2007 , pp. 13-20(8)

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

Abstract:

This qualitative study examined the subjective bereavement experiences of 14 young Latina women who as adolescents had had a miscarriage before 16 weeks gestation. Time between the miscarriage and interview ranged from 2 to 5 years. Using Sanders's Integrated Theory of Bereavement as the framework, responses were analyzed for elements of Sanders's phases of grief. Results indicated that these women did exhibit characteristics of each of the five bereavement phases, with all showing some signs of renewal, the final stage. However, six participants also exhibited some attributes of long-term adverse change related to the miscarriage experience. These results are consistent with the literature of adult women who miscarry. For adolescents the bereavement response to a miscarriage can vary from minimal to long-term, unresolved grief.

Spanish
Esta cualitativa investigación examinó la experiencia subjetiva de desamparo entre 14 mujeres latinas jóvenes quienes hubieron sufrido un aborto espontáneo antes de 16 semanas de gestación. El tiempo entre el aborto y la entrevista variaba de 2 a 5 años. Usando como estructura la teoría integrada de desamparo de Sanders, las respuestas fueron analizadas para los elementos de las etapas de desamparo de Sanders. Los resultados indicaron que estas mujeres presentaban características en cada una de las cinco etapas de desamparo, y todas mostraron unos signos de renovación, la última etapa. Sin embargo, seis de las participantes presentaban también unos atributos de cambios negativos de largo plazo en relación a la experiencia del aborto espontáneo. Estos resultados son consistentes con la literatura de las mujeres adultas quienes sufren un aborto espontáneo. Para una adolescente, la respuesta de desamparo después de aborto espontáneo puede variar de mínima, a un desamparo de largo plazo sin resolución.

Keywords: ADOLESCENT; MISCARRIAGE; GRIEF; BEREAVEMENT; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; NATURALISTIC INQUIRY

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/154041507780851897

Publication date: 2007-03-01

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• Hispanic Health Care International discusses issues of interest to health care providers, nurse clinicians, educators, and researchers. The journal serves as a forum for the dissemination of information on practice, education, and research issues affecting the Hispanic/Latino population.
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