Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Men’s Experiences of Perinatal Death in Australia

Abstract

Globally, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families are at a higher risk of experiencing perinatal death and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, while there has been some research concerning men’s experiences of grief generally, there has been no Australian research examining CALD men’s grief following perinatal death, nor the support experiences and needs that this cohort of bereaved men have. This qualitative study examines interview accounts from a total of 16 participants, including six healthcare service providers and 10 CALD community members (four of whom were men who had personally experienced perinatal death). Thematic analysis identified four themes related to CALD men’s grief expression (namely, that CALD men’s grief is individual, a changing and enduring process, partner-centred, and expressed through stoic ideals of masculinity), as well as five themes related to support (namely that perinatal death, grief, and following care were found to be associated with stigma, and that CALD men’s support is shaped by; religion and ritual, connection to community and family, inhibited self-advocacy, and woman-centred supports). These findings indicate that CALD men may benefit from targeted and culturally-safe mental health, financial, and emotional support following perinatal death. Future research could usefully focus on the culturally-shaped roles that CALD men have following a perinatal death, including in relation to supporting their families. The research points to the strong need for CALD men’s specific needs to be included in the development of policy and practice surrounding perinatal death.