Lived experiences of women with repeat spontaneous abortions admitted at Kawempe national referral hospital

Abstract

Background: Women with repeat spontaneous abortions are faced with various experiences which are social, economic and psychological in nature. The loss of the potential for motherhood often results in loss of self-esteem, guilt, anger, depression, anxiety and emotional lability in many women following repeat spontaneous abortion. Despite all these, few studies have been conducted to understand the lived experiences of such women following repeat spontaneous abortion. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of those mothers with an aim of instituting guiding policies in managing mothers with repeat abortions. Methods: An exploratory phenomenological qualitative research was conducted among women who had been managed for repeat spontaneous abortions at Kawempe National Referral Hospital. The sample size for this study was 12 respondents, which was determined by the principle of thematic saturation. Participants were interviewed using in-depth interviews after undergoing consent process. The data collected was analyzed using Nvivo 12. The transcribed copies were anonymized, coded, and analyzed using a thematic approach. Emerging themes were identified and coded into categories. Results: While in the hands of health workers, mothers reported to have received counselling, emotional and spiritual support and empathy from health workers. However, some mothers had negative encounters with health workers such as negligence and arrogance of health workers. At individual level, this study found out that women lost their self-esteem, respect and self- confidence after sustaining repeat abortions. Mothers also experienced self-blame and uncertainty of getting future pregnancies. Repeated abortion was reported to cause psychological effects such anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness among mothers. Socioeconomically, mothers experienced social neglect, loss of jobs, and financial losses. Also, repeat abortion led to breakage of families and rejection from friends and family. Conclusion: After the loss of pregnancy, mothers reported negative socio-economic and psychological experiences and some positive experiences while at the point of care despite negligence and arrogance of health workers. Hospitals in Uganda and Africa at large should establish a program to follow up patients in the communities and offer them counselling and psychosocial support following repeat abortions and encourage health workers to change their attitude towards patients with abortions.