1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«This chapter presents how perinatal death and the subsequent grief are experienced in Canada, a country integrating various cultures. We begin with a brief historical overview of the implications of loss in this culture. We then examine the experiences of mothers, fathers, extended family members, other children, and health professionals, focusing on information gathered from Canadian research and clinical practice.» (p. 180)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données documentaires diverses

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

According to the authors, «[v]arious challenges have been highlighted. First, and fundamentally, the lack of agreement on the definition of perinatal death among provinces, and among institutions within a province, and even in regard to families’ own definitions, affects policies and consequently health services offered and, ultimately, parents’ experiences. A second challenge lies in the fact that Aboriginal, immigrant, and refugee populations have historically not had a strong voice in contemporary Canadian culture, and consequently there has been limited research on the topic of perinatal bereavement within those cultures. […] While technology has changed the landscape of birth by opening opportunities for attachment in early pregnancy, for instance, as a result of being able to ‘see’ the baby through ultrasound photography, this attachment may heighten the intensity of grief in the case of perinatal death. The expanding discourse and legislation surrounding the right to die (currently active in Quebec) and the emergence of perinatal hospice open the way for controversial discussions on prenatal testing and its consequences (Layne, 2006 ). These developments illustrate the ways in which cultural attitudes toward perinatal death are evolving in Canada.» (p. 203-204) À noter que les auteures font souvent références aux différents services offerts aux parents endeuillés dans la province québécoise.