Cultural beliefs and practices on perinatal death: a qualitative study among the Lango community in Northern Uganda

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dc.contributor.authorArach, Anna Agnes Ojok
dc.contributor.authorNakasujja, Noeline
dc.contributor.authorRujumba, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorMukunya, David
dc.contributor.authorOdongkara, Beatrice
dc.contributor.authorMusaba, Milton W.
dc.contributor.authorNapyo, Agnes
dc.contributor.authorTumwine, James K.
dc.contributor.authorNankabirwa, Victoria
dc.contributor.authorNdeezi, Grace
dc.contributor.authorKiguli, Juliet
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-15T10:58:15Z
dc.date.available2026-06-15T10:58:15Z
dc.date.issued2023-04-03
dc.description.abstractBackground Perinatal death has profound psychosocial effects on women and their families. Sociocultural con texts influence the burden, rituals and bereaved’s support. Little is known about cultural beliefs and practices related to perinatal death. This study explored the cultural perspectives of the Lango community on perinatal death. Methods This study utilised a focused ethnographic design anchored on a symbolic interactionist framework to understand the meanings attached to beliefs and practices on stillbirth or neonatal death among the Lango community in Lira District, Northern Uganda. Participants were sampled purposively for FGD while key informants were identified through snowballing technique. Data were audio recorded in Lango, transcribed, and later translated, a codebook was developed and data entered into Atlas. ti version 8.4.26 and then coded. It was analysed both deduc tively and inductively into themes. Results Stillbirth and early neonatal death both attract similar rituals as would an older child. Burial is not rushed and is attended by family members and close friends. Stillbirths and children that die before naming are buried with out names. Bereaved families are comforted and encouraged about future pregnancies. Currently, Lango associates the deaths to biomedical explanations such as teenage pregnancies, inadequate pregnancy care, health system chal lenges and poor health-seeking behaviour, unlike previously when they were attributed to consequences of unaccep table social behaviours, superstitious beliefs and witchcraft. Antenatal care and health facility childbirths are currently preferred over traditional practices for good pregnancy outcomes. Conclusion Stillbirth or early neonatal death is viewed as the death of a child, different from other settings. Thus, ritu als are performed to honour, create memory, and maintain the connection with deceased babies. Bereaved parents are supported. Health care workers need to provide culturally sensitive support to parents after perinatal loss. The prevailing beliefs of perinatal death cause in terms of biomedical explanations consistent with known determinants and preference for health facility care for prevention creates an opportunity for improving perinatal health. Keywords Culture, Perspectives, Beliefs, Practices, Stillbirth, Perinatal death, Uganda
dc.description.sponsorshipSurvival Pluss project under Makerere University funded by the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development (NORHED) through the Norwegian Agency for Development (Norad). The funding body played no role in the design of the study, data collection, analysis or interpretation of data or writ ing of the manuscript.
dc.identifier.citationArach, A. A. O., Nakasujja, N., Rujumba, J., Mukunya, D., Odongkara, B., Musaba, M. W., ... & Kiguli, J. (2023). Cultural beliefs and practices on perinatal death: a qualitative study among the Lango community in Northern Uganda. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 222.
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05550-4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14270/838
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer Nature
dc.subjectCulture
dc.subjectPerspectives
dc.subjectBeliefs
dc.subjectPractices
dc.subjectStillbirth
dc.subjectPerinatal death
dc.subjectUganda
dc.titleCultural beliefs and practices on perinatal death: a qualitative study among the Lango community in Northern Uganda
dc.typeArticle

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