LIVED EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH MISCARRIAGES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN THE SAGNARIGU MUNICIPALITY IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Women who lose their babies through miscarriages are mostly shocked; and feel guilt and emptiness. Most women plan their future with their child during early pregnancy and when they miscarry, they feel they are the cause through something they have done or consumed which makes them sense a lot of sorrow. This study sought to discover the experiences of mothers who have experienced miscarriages in the Sagnerigu Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana. Participants were carefully chosen through purposive and snowball sampling techniques to capture the diverse experiences of mothers who had suffered miscarriages. Structured observation was also employed to gather additional information to supplement the data collected. Responses were captured using a tape recorder. Notes were also taken and later transcribed and coded. Data were analyzed thematically to identify recurring themes and patterns in participants narratives. The study was conducted on 15 women who were purposively sampled and interviewed using a well-designed interview guide to collect purely qualitative data and made use of the Phenomenological research design to describe participants' lived experiences concerning pregnancy loss. The data collected from participants in this study were thematically analyzed highlighting all the main themes the study sought respond to. The main themes that were identified from the experiences of the 15 women included: The lived experience of miscarriage, The uniqueness of pregnancy after loss, Support systems and Post miscarriage care. The analysis revealed that, the educational level, age of a woman, place of residence, marital status, occupational type and income variant were important factors that contributed to pregnancy loss experience among ever-pregnant women. It was therefore recommended that, the Ghana Health Service should equip midwives and nurses with skills on how to care for women who miscarry