gms | German Medical Science

3rd International Conference of the German Society of Midwifery Science (DGHWi)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hebammenwissenschaft e.V.

12.02.2016, Fulda

Stillbirth in Germany – What parents need and what care providers are able to give

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author Sabine de Wall - AG Hebammenwissenschaft, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • Mechthild Groß - AG Hebammenwissenschaft, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • Hanna Gehling - AG Hebammenwissenschaft, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • Susanne Grylka-Bäschlin - AG Hebammenwissenschaft, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • Christiane Schwarz - AG Hebammenwissenschaft, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  • Marina Weckend - AG Hebammenwissenschaft, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany

German Association of Midwifery Science. 3rd International Meeting of the German Association of Midwifery Science (DGHWi). Fulda, 12.-12.02.2016. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2016. Doc16dghwiP13

doi: 10.3205/16dghwi17, urn:nbn:de:0183-16dghwi177

This is the English version of the article.
The German version can be found at: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/dghwi2016/16dghwi17.shtml

Published: February 5, 2016

© 2016 de Wall et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

Text

Background: World estimates of stillbirth are around 2.6 million babies annually [1]. Stillbirth rates in Germany have been roughly at international average at 3.37 per 1,000 live births. Despite an increasing intensity of antenatal care programs and prenatal diagnostics it was not possible yet to further decrease this rate [2]. While research to further decrease stillbirth rates is needed, care during and following fetal death needs to be reviewed and optimized. Literature search reveals that so far only few relevant publications on care during and after stillbirth have been published. This emphasizes the need for further research on this topic [3].

Aims: This study aims to describe current models of care around stillbirth. Parents’ and care takers’ perspectives are to be explored and compared. Furthermore the German community’s knowledge and need for information regarding the topic of stillbirth shall be investigated.

Methods: In December 2014 three questionnaires in English language for parents, care providers and community members were developed and tested for a planned publication in The Lancet by the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA). These questionnaires went online on an Australian server and were translated into five different languages. A German translation was available online between 03.02.2015 and 09.03.2015. 4184 bereaved parents participated (Germany n=206, 5.9%), 2138 care providers (Germany n=355, 17.6%) and 1431 community members (Germany n=85, 7.6%) completed the questionnaires [4][5]. This study will analyze the qualitative German data with structured qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Quantitative Data shall be evaluated with methods of descriptive statistics to show correlations.

Expected Results: Care around stillbirth in Germany will be described and categorized. Parents’ and care providers’ perspectives will be explored. Knowledge, information needs and views of the German community will be investigated.

Conclusions: While research on the prevention of stillbirth continues to be important, research topics should include strategies to optimize care around stillbirth. Our analysis and appraisal of perspectives on care around stillbirth will contribute to the development of appropriate and needs-oriented concepts of care.

Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained by Mater Health Services Human Research Ethics Committee (MHS HREC) (EC00332). In Germany, ethical approval is sought by Hannover Medical School (pending).

Conflicts of interest: Data collection was funded by the International Stillbirth Alliance. The evaluation of the German data ensued without external funding as part of a PhD thesis. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.


References

1.
Word Health Organisation. National, regional, and worldwide estimates of stillbirth rates in 2009 with trends since 1995. 2011. Verfügbar unter: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/maternal_perinatal/stillbirth/who_rhr_11-3.pdf?ua=1 [Zugriff 05.01.2016] External link
2.
Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Lebendgeborene, Totgeborene, Gestorbene und Saldo der Lebendgeborenen und Gestorbenen. Gliederungsmerkmale: Jahre, Region, Geschlecht. 2014. Verfügbar unter: https://www.gbe-bund.de/oowa921-install/servlet/oowa/aw92/dboowasys921.xwdevkit/xwd_init?gbe.isgbetol/xs_start_neu/&p_aid=3&p_aid=32570219&nummer=187&p_sprache=D&p_indsp=99999999&p_aid=42728219 [Zugriff 05.08.2015] External link
3.
Flenady V, Wojcieszek AM, Erwich JJ, Ellwood D, Erwich JJ, Smith G, et al. Supplementary webappendix – Stillbirth: what next in high-income countries? Submitted. 2015.
4.
Flenady V, Middleton P, Smith G, Duke W, Erwich JJ, Khong TY, et al. Major risk factors for stillbirth in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2011;377(9774):1331-40. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62233-7 External link
5.
Flenady V, Wojcieszek AM, Erwich JJ, Ellwood D, Erwich JJ, Smith G, et al. The Lancet Follow-on Stillbirths Series Steering Committee Overview. Submitted. 2015.