Abstract

This qualitative study examines how female patients in rural communities in the Midwest, who experienced at least one miscarriage, perceived their experience of pregnancy loss. Qualitative data were collected from 10 women who did experience at least one loss in addition to 10 participants who were providers or partners of the women were interviewed. The Socio-Ecological model informed the methodology and thematic analysis. Open-ended qualitative interviews provided the basis for the analysis. Transcribed narrative data were analyzed using standard coding procedures and MAXQDA software. Women who experienced miscarriage discussed how they made meaning of the experience within the context of care and their perceptions of risk given certain socio-environmental factors. Providers, public health professionals and family studies professionals can use the study results to better inform best practices in maternity care particularly in under-served, resource-poor locations.

Keywords: Miscarriage; Gender; Public health; Patient perspectives; Risk; Qualitative analysis; Reproductive uncertainty; Women’s health; Provider perspectives; Case study; Socio-ecological model; United States