Asia-Pacific women's experiences of stillbirth: A metasynthesis of qualitative literature

ABSTRACT

Literature related to Asia-Pacific women's lived experiences of stillbirth was reviewed through metasynthesis of selected empirical studies. An overarching construct of “interconnectedness” between complex experiences influenced by cultural and systemic factors became apparent. Four experiential themes emerged: “acts of accusation,” “rocky relationships,” “entangled emotions,” and “routines of reconciliation.” These were influenced by two systemic factors: “contexts of culture” and “health care matters.” Women's sociocultural experiences and their engagement with health care systems influenced how they managed and reconciled their loss. This study contributes to the literature on women's experiences of stillbirth, furthering theory creation and generating future research agendas.

Acknowledgment

Special thanks to Associate Professor Wendy Earles, James Cook University, Cairns, who provided guidance in writing this article.