Perception and actions of healthcare professionals in response to cases of gestational loss

Abstract

In Brazil, the high number of annual gestational losses constitutes a serious public health issue. Gestational loss can cause emotional trauma for mothers and their families due to society's lack of validation and the inadequate and unsympathetic support often provided by healthcare professionals. Thus, the objective of this research was to understand the role of healthcare professionals in cases of gestational loss, identifying their own feelings, those of women and their families, as well as the attitudes and resources used in these cases. A qualitative descriptive exploratory research was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 10 healthcare professionals in Ribeirão Preto: 9 with degrees (5 nurses, 2 psychologists, and 2 doctors) and 1 nursing technician, all women. Three work in hospitals, 1 in domiciliary care, and 6 in private clinics. The research results were grouped into 3 categories: a) Perception of feelings: Professionals recognize the emotional complexity, encompassing their own feelings, those of women, and family reactions. b) Conducts: Despite facing emotional challenges, professionals strive for empathetic and humane care. c) Institutional resources: There is a notable lack of institutional resources, leading professionals to fill this gap with isolated projects, but these are not institutionalized. Therefore, it is essential to enhance the training of healthcare professionals, both theoretically and practically, to better handle emotional challenges and improve their services. Furthermore, greater availability of institutional resources and protocols ensuring empathetic care for mothers and families facing gestational loss is necessary.