Maternal’ Lived Experiences of Their Near-miss Events: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Studies

Background: Maternal near-miss (MNM) experiences have long-term and significant effects on the mothers and their families.Examining the nature of MNM may clarify the problems it causes for mothers.Therefore, this study aimed to explain the experiences of MNM events using a qualitative review.Methods: Qualitative studies were reviewed using a search strategy encompassing the MEDLINE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Magiran databases, with searches conducted up to August 2024.The key search term was 'near miss,' in combination with terms related to obstetric experience, including 'maternal,' 'pregnant,' and 'women'.Studies were included if they were qualitative and focused on near-miss experiences.Two authors independently evaluated the quality of the selected studies using the critical appraisal skills programme (CASP) tool for qualitative research.Out of 97938 studies identified, 16 met the inclusion criteria.Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the research.Results: Review produced three overarching themes: perception of quality of care, physical, mental, and spiritual experiences, and disturbance in emotional, social, and economic well-being.The subcategories of perception of quality of care included "mismanagement of the medical team," "lack of access to health care facilities," "communication problems between the medical team and the patient," and "patient awareness." Conclusion:Based on the results, the healthcare system should focus on improving the quality of care, and family members should pay more attention to emotional well-being and ensure comprehensive health insurance coverage to help address the economic concerns of treatment and complications.