Evaluation of spirituality among primary caregivers in a perinatal palliative care program in Mexico

Abstract Background Perinatal palliative care seeks to maximize quality of life through physical, social, psychological, and spiritual care, supporting families from diagnosis through bereavement. Spirituality (the search for meaning and connection, and religiousness, a system of beliefs and rituals linked to the divine) shape the experience of illness and death, yet are often sidelined in medical care. Evaluating spirituality is essential but complex, as it requires translating an abstract concept into a socio-clinical measure and is limited by health professionals' lack of training. Tools such as FICA (Faith, Importance, Community, and Address in care) can facilitate this process. Objective To explore the spiritual dimensions and needs of caregivers of newborns in palliative care, using the FICA tool as an evaluation guide. Methodology Semi-structured interviews with primary caregivers, guided by the FICA dimensions, were recorded and transcribed for thematic narrative analysis. Participants provided informed consent. Results Caregivers of nine newborns were invited; seven caregivers of five newborns accepted. Ages ranged from 18 to 53 years; most belonged to extended nuclear families, lived in urban areas, and were traditionally Catholic. Most recognized their spiritual beliefs and needs and the importance of spirituality in their lives; six of seven belonged to informal spiritual communities. The affective dimension predominated, and anguish and abandonment emerged as spiritual symptoms. Conclusion FICA helps identify caregivers' spiritual dimensions, their community support, and how prayer, ritual, and family support provide comfort. Routine spiritual evaluation could help detect spiritual suffering and guide better support strategies from health professionals in perinatal palliative care.