Table 1.
Background characteristics of 64 parents1 participating in the online focus group discussions and of their deceased children
| Characteristics | Participants N = 64 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | % | |
| Participating parent | ||
| Mother | 53 | 83 |
| Father | 4 | 6 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Ethnicity | ||
| Dutch | 57 | 89 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Church membership | ||
| No | 35 | 55 |
| Yes | 22 | 34 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Year of death of the child | ||
| 1970-1999 | 22 | 34 |
| 2000-2012 | 35 | 55 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Age of the child at time of death | ||
| Stillbirth | 10 | 16 |
| First month | 15 | 23 |
| 2nd -12th month | 25 | 39 |
| Second year | 7 | 11 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Expected /unexpected death | ||
| Expected | 16 | 25 |
| Unexpected | 41 | 64 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Cause of death | ||
| Pregnancy and childbirth related conditions | 13 | 20 |
| Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities | 10 | 16 |
| Sudden infant death syndrome | 26 | 41 |
| Other | 8 | 12 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
| Place of death | ||
| Stillbirth | 10 | 16 |
| At home | 24 | 38 |
| In hospital | 15 | 23 |
| Other | 8 | 12 |
| Unknown | 7 | 11 |
Seven parents who participated in the online focus group discussions did not fill out the questionnaire (answer category: ‘unknown’)