Culturally Informed Communication of Neonatal Death in Chinese Neonatal Intensive Care Units

What are the experiences of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) medical staff regarding communicating about neonatal death with parents in China?In this qualitative study involving 24 NICU physicians and nurses, neonatal deaths were disclosed primarily to fathers, the term was avoided and metaphors were used in communication with parents, and emotions were restrained. In most instances, the hospital and staff managed newborns’ remains to protect families’ reputations.Findings of this study highlight key areas for improvement such as reducing stigma around neonatal loss, developing culturally sensitive bereavement services, and exploring parental experiences and preferences regarding neonatal death and postmortem care.

Corresponding Author: Pingting Zhu, PhD, School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, 136 Jiangyang Middle Road, Hanjiang County, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, 225009, China (ptzhu@yzu.edu.cn).

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