"I expected to be called 'mother': exploring mental health needs of bereaved mothers in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND

Tanzania has among the highest rates of stillbirth and neonatal death globally, yet little is known about the mental health impact of such loss on mothers. Cultural stigma, silence around grief, and limited access to psychosocial support compound these challenges. This study explores the experiences of bereaved Tanzanian mothers, focusing on mental health symptoms, social support, and preferred forms of post-loss care.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. Fifty women (25 with stillbirth, 25 with neonatal death) were enrolled. At 8 weeks post-loss, 40 women completed in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and thematically coded via a directed content analysis combining deductive and inductive coding. A brief intake questionnaire captured demographic data and perceptions of immediate support.

RESULTS

Four organizing themes emerged: (1) identified sources of support included partners, communities, and providers; (2) women experienced negative responses from these loci of support such as blame, gossip, and abandonment; (3) stigma surrounding childlessness disrupted maternal identity; and (4) women expressed a strong desire for structured mental health support, including peer groups and counseling. These organizing themes coalesced into a single ground theme: following perinatal loss, women experienced mental health challenges while expressing needs for greater psychological and psychosocial support.

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal loss deeply impacts maternal mental health in Tanzania. Interventions must address cultural stigma and include formal peer support and provider-led bereavement care to support healing and resilience in bereaved mothers.