The Needs of Bereaved Women after the Perinatal Loss of a Child – Implications for the Practice of Social and Health-Social Workers

Hana Kasparkova, Martina Krivankova

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The study poses the question of determining the perceived needs of bereaved women after the perinatal loss of their child(ren). This study is significant as it will draw further research into the practice for social or health-social workers, who may then be able to provide services for bereaved mothers. THEORETICAL BASE: In the study a holistic approach to social work was chosen out of concern for all dimensions of human existence, particularly considering women’s needs (Navrátil, 2001; Jankovský, 2003), which Matoušek (2016) also adopts in his division of needs. METHODS: A qualitative analytical approach was applied to semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 8 respondents, all of whom were selected based on criterion sampling. OUTCOMES: The analysis clearly shows that the respondents’ essential needs, according to the Matoušek (2016) division, were related to the psychological balance of security and spiritual areas. On the contrary, needs related to physical well-being were hardly mentioned by the respondents. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATION: Social workers can act as counsellors for bereaved mother to assist them during the grief process and while handling the necessary details and administrative processes related to their deceased child. They can also provide information about the necessary sociolegal aspects, and in an appropriate way, they can thus play a supportive role in the lives of bereaved mothers based on their knowledge and practice.

Keywords
social work, perinatal child loss, needs, health-social workers, social workers in health care environments

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