Syrian refugee families’ experiences of pregnancy loss services in Lebanon: A Qualitative study

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Introduction: Of the approximately 1.5 million government-reported Syrian refugees displaced in Lebanon, one in four women are of childbearing age (Cherri et al., 2017; Nabolsi et al., 2020). Pregnancy loss among childbearing women is more prevalent in low-resource settings (Harakow et al., 2021; The Lancet, 2016). This qualitative research study explores Syrian refugee families’ experiences of pregnancy loss in Lebanon considering the scarcity of health services, specifically those addressing pregnancy loss in displacement settings. Methods: An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to illuminate the experiences of pregnancy loss among 15 Syrian refugee families living in the Bekaa region. Each mother-father dyad participated in a joint interview followed by an individual interview. Two peer group discussions were held with mothers (n=8) and fathers (n=7). The viewpoints of health practitioners were elicited through one-on-one interviews (n=3) and four peer group discussions (n=10). Results: Dedicated services following pregnancy loss are lacking. Both parents and practitioners emphasized the predominantly medical focus of care for women during the perinatal period. In the wake of pregnancy loss, parents expressed a general lack of awareness of available health services while health practitioners prioritized the provision of awareness sessions (as a form of pregnancy loss prevention). Both parents and health practitioners endorsed a need for psychological supports. Health providers also identified the need to engage fathers more in perinatal services, while parents spoke intensely of the need for practical support that addressed their precarious living conditions. Conclusions: By highlighting the overlap and differing service priorities of parents and practitioners this research suggests critical areas of change for the delivery and reception of services following pregnancy loss. While responding to refugee families’ extreme poverty and precarity should be at the forefront of service utility, increasing the responsiveness and relevancy of practice and policy that frame the experience of pregnancy loss among refugee families is equally vital.