title: Experiences of african american parents following perinatal or pediatric death: a literature review.
abstract: A child's death is one of life's most difficult experiences. Little is known about the unique factors that influence the grief experience for bereaved African American parents. Through an integrative review of 10 publications, the authors describe the grief responses, outcomes, and implications for African American parents who experience the death of a child. Four themes emerged: (a) emotional response to loss; (b) factors that added to the burden of loss; (c) coping strategies; and (d) health consequences of grief. Healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers should be sensitive to the unique needs of African American parents following a child's death.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Systems Science , University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing , Chicago , Illinois , USA.
authors.forename: Jackelyn Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Boyden
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kavanaugh
authors.forename: L Michele
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Issel
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eldeirawi
authors.forename: Kathleen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Meert
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D066087:Perinatal Death; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000523:psychology*