TABLE 3.
RELATIONSHIPS, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND COPING SKILLS
| Relationships, crisis-intervention and coping skills | Frequency | % |
|---|---|---|
| Reaction towards other children after the loss | ||
| I found it difficult to react to their emotional needs | 9 | 36 |
| I neglected them for a period | 8 | 32 |
| I could, as in the past, satisfy their needs | 6 | 24 |
| They irritated me easily | 7 | 28 |
| I did not know how to explain the death | 4 | 16 |
| Caring for my children helped me to deal with the loss | 6 | 24 |
| I appreciate my children much more now | 11 | 44 |
| Severity of crisis as seen by participant | ||
| I didn't perceive my loss as a crisis | 1 | 4 |
| I perceived my loss as a slight crisis | 4 | 16 |
| I saw the loss of my baby as a crisis and needed help | 18 | 72 |
| I perceived my loss as a severe crisis | 2 | 8 |
| Importance of seeing baby | ||
| Longing to see baby | 19 | 76 |
| Only wanted to see baby briefly | 1 | 4 |
| Not after birth, too overwhelmed | 1 | 4 |
| No, only at funeral | 1 | 4 |
| No, never | 3 | 12 |
| Persons who assisted most in the bereavement process | ||
| Mother/grandmother | 7 | 28 |
| Husband /partner | 6 | 24 |
| Social worker | 5 | 20 |
| Sister/ friend with same experience | 3 | 15 |
| Family | 2 | 8 |
| Friend | 1 | 4 |
| Church | 1 | 4 |
| Reactions of people in the community | ||
| Positive reactions: Supportive | 7 | 28 |
| Negative reactions: Teased | 3 | 12 |
| Negative reactions: Mentioned subsequent pregnancies | 10 | 40 |
| Negative reactions: Avoidance | 5 | 20 |