Table 3 Results related to the disposition of the body/ remains, cross-tabulated by gestational age
From: Care quality following intrauterine death in Spanish hospitals: results from an online survey
Gestational age (weeks) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total (n = 796) | 16–19 (n = 128) | 20–25 (n = 193) | 26–33 (n = 151) | ≥ 34 (n = 324) | ||||
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | χ2, p* | Cramér’s V | ||
Communication of procedures and options for the disposition of the body*** | ||||||||
“No one” explained options for disposition | 273 (34.3) | 96 (75.0) | 111 (57.5) | 20 (13.2) | 46 (14.2) | 228.05, | p < 0.001 | .535 |
A doctor | 240 (30.2) | 18 (14.1) | 46 (23.8) | 59 (39.1) | 117 (36.1) | 30.56, | p < 0.001 | .196 |
A midwife/ nurse | 156 (19.6) | 11 (8.6) | 24 (12.4) | 42 (27.8) | 79 (24.4) | 27.29, | p < 0.001 | .185 |
Representative of a funeral home | 124 (15.6) | 1 (0.8) | 6 (3.1) | 28 (18.5) | 89 (27.5) | ** | ||
Administrator/ social worker/ porter/ other HP | 51 (6.4) | 2 (1.6) | 8 (4.1) | 17 (11.3) | 24 (7.4) | ** | ||
Don’t know as a family member took charge | 9 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.0) | 6 (1.9) | ** | ||
Other | 3 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | ** | ||
Not stated | 16 (2.0) | 2 (1.6) | 3 (1.6) | 3 (2.0) | 8 (2.5) | ** | ||
Disposition method | ||||||||
Donated to research | 92 (11.6) | 6 (4.7) | 27 (14.0) | 27 (17.9) | 32 (9.9) | 13.83, | p = 0.003 | .132 |
Private (burial or cremation) | 310 (39.5) | 5 (4.0) | 19 (10.0) | 67 (44.4) | 219 (67.6) | 248.52, | p < 0.001 | .559 |
Hospital managed disposition (incineration) | 371 (46.6) | 113 (88.3) | 144 (74.6) | 50 (33.1) | 64 (19.8) | 255.09, | p < 0.001 | .566 |
Burial common plot | 12 (1.5) | 1 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (4.0) | 5 (1.5) | ** | ||
Other (e.g. haemorrhage at home) | 11 (1.4) | 3 (2.3) | 3 (1.6) | 1 (0.7) | 4 (1.2) | ** | ||
Reason for hospital managed disposition/ incineration[1]*** | (n = 371) | (n = 113) | (n = 144) | (n = 50) | (n = 64) | |||
aOnly option/ told it was protocol early losses | 205 (55.3) | 94 (83.2) | 90 (62.5) | 15 (30.0) | 6 (9.4) | 106.10, | p < 0.001 | .535 |
bLack of information/ no information | 42 (11.3) | 9 (8.0) | 18 (12.5) | 6 (12.0) | 9 (14.1) | 1.97, | p = 0.579 | – |
cTold: body not returned in cases of autopsy | 44 (11.9) | 5 (4.4) | 15 (10.4) | 12 (24.0) | 12 (18.8) | 16.21, | p = 0.001 | .209 |
Seemed like/ was the best option | 38 (10.2) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (4.2) | 11 (22.0) | 21 (32.8) | ** | ||
Pressured decision/ in a state of shock | 24 (6.5) | 1 (0.9) | 4 (2.8) | 6 (12.0) | 13 (20.3) | ** | ||
Other[2] | 23 (6.2) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.1) | 6 (12.0) | 14 (21.9) | ** | ||
Not stated | 35 (9.4) | 5 (4.4) | 14 (9.7) | 5 (10.0) | 11 (17.2) | 7.85, | p = 0.049 | .146 |
a + b + cDecision not taken by the parents | 285 (76.8) | 107 (94.7) | 121 (84.0) | 31 (62.0) | 26 (40.6) | 77.7, | p < 0.001 | .458 |
As a % of all cases (n = 792) | 285 (35.8) | 107 (83.6) | 121 (62.7) | 31 (20.5) | 26 (8.0) | 312.01, | p < 0.001 | .626 |