Addressing Women’s Psychosocial Needs Following an Adverse Prenatal Diagnosis: Qualitative Findings Inform SARF Model Development

Abstract

ABSTRACT Adverse prenatal diagnoses, regardless of the women’s choice of continuing the pregnancy or terminating it, can impact a women’s psychological and psychosocial wellbeing. Supportive interventions during this time are important. However, understanding what is deemed useful and best practice is complex and multifaceted. To understand the need for support during this time, the authors undertook a research study where 12 women were interviewed. The women spoke about feeling pressured by time in making a decision regarding their pregnancy option and having limited psychoeducation and support provided. They also spoke about post-traumatic growth in their grief experience. To assist health professionals, the authors have addressed the following areas in the study’s findings and discussion sections: the lack of appropriate information delivery skills of the professionals, the need for an assessment of each woman’s unique needs, the need for appropriate referrals to be given, and the need for appropriate follow-ups of the women. The SARF (Skills, Assessment, Referral, and Follow-up) model, presented in this article as a synthesis of this research, has the potential to inform the development of clinical services and social work practice to support women’s care following adverse prenatal diagnosis. IMPLICATIONS Psychosocial assessments are vital in providing good quality care to women after a poor prenatal diagnosis. The model can provide guidance to ensure that psychosocial assessments and explorations of values are undertaken before referring women to follow-up services. Given social workers’ experience in providing psychosocial assessments and their recommendations, social work clinicians should be utilised in health settings to their full scope of practice.