This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of perinatal grief literature, drawing on 964 articles published between 1981 and 2025 in the Web of Science Core Collection database. Using R-bibliometrix and VOSviewer, it explores conceptual evolution and structural dynamics, identifying leading authors, countries, journals, keywords, and co-citation networks. Findings reveal a marked increase in publications since 2018, with the United States leading in research output and international collaboration. Despite this growth, the field lacks author-level specialization. Recent studies have increasingly focused on the psychological well-being of families affected by perinatal loss. This analysis contributes to understanding global research patterns and highlights emerging directions for future interdisciplinary inquiry in the field of perinatal grief.
Alvarez-CalleM.ChavesC. (2023). Posttraumatic growth after perinatal loss: A systematic review. Midwifery, 121(1), Article 103651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103651
3.
ArachA. A. O.NakasujjaN.RujumbaJ.MukunyaD.OdongkaraB.MusabaM. W.NapyoA.TumwineJ. K.NankabirwaV.NdeeziG.KiguliJ. (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. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05550-4
4.
AriaM.CuccurulloC. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
5.
AtashsokhanG.FarjamfarM.KhosraviA.TaherM.KeramatA. (2024). Desired care for perinatal bereavement: Meeting the needs of mothers after discharge from the hospital—A qualitative study. Inquiry, 61(2), Article 469580231223763. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580231223763
6.
AzizanA. S.MuawanahS.JamelS. C. (2024). College mapping the research landscape of falls in older adults: A bibliometric analysis. International Journal on Social and Education Sciences, 6(1), 20–36. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonses.611
7.
BerryS. N.ParishS. J. (2022). The trauma of perinatal loss: A scoping review. Trauma Care, 2(3), 416–436.
8.
BirkleC.PendleburyD. A.SchnellJ.AdamsJ. (2020). Web of science as a data source for research on scientific and scholarly activity. Quantitative Science Studies, 1(1), 363–376. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00018
9.
BlencoweH.CampbellO. M. R.KeracT.StaffordR.TripathiV.FilippiV. (2025). Neglected for too long: Perinatal mental health impacts of stillbirth in low- and middle-income countries. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 132(4), 554–556. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18051
10.
BogilovićS.ČerneM. (2018). The intellectual structure and outlooks for individual creativity research: A bibliometric analysis for the period 1950–2016. In Individual creativity in the workplace (pp. 153–188). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813238-8.00007-3
11.
BurdenC.BradleyS.StoreyC., et al. (2016). From grief, guilt, pain and stigma to hope and pride – a systematic review and meta-analysis of mixed-method research of the psychosocial impact of stillbirth. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 16(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-0800-8
12.
CassidyP. R. (2023). The disenfranchisement of perinatal grief: How silence, silencing and self-censorship complicate bereavement (A mixed methods study). Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying, 88(2), 709–731. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211050500
13.
CharroisE. M.BrightK. S.WajidA.MughalM. K.HaydenK. A.KingstonD. (2020). Effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions on psychological distress in women who have experienced perinatal loss: A systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 9(1), 125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01387-6
14.
CoboM. J.López-HerreraA. G.Herrera-ViedmaE.HerreraF. (2011). Science mapping software tools: Review, analysis, and cooperative study among tools. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 62(7), 1382–1402. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.21525
15.
CuencaD. (2023). Pregnancy loss: Consequences for mental health. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 3(2), Article 1032212. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2022.1032212
16.
CuiN.WuS.WangX.ShengL. (2025). Experiences and needs of family members of perinatal infant deaths: A meta-synthesis. Frontiers in Public Health, 13(1), Article 1580039. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1580039
17.
DoneganG.NoonanM.BradshawC. (2023). Parents’ experiences of pregnancy following perinatal loss: An integrative review. Midwifery, 121(1), Article 103673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2023.103673
18.
FarrenJ.Mitchell-JonesN.VerbakelJ. Y.TimmermanD.JalmbrantM.BourneT. (2018). The psychological impact of early pregnancy loss. Human Reproduction Update, 24(6), 731–749. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmy025
19.
Fernández-CoxC. E.Chirino-OrtizM. F.LaraT.SchulmeyerM. K.Fernández-AlcántaraM. (2025). Factors associated with perinatal bereavement among mothers in Bolivia: A qualitative study. Healthcare, 13(6), 615. https://doi.org/10.3390
20.
Fernández-OrdoñezE.González-Cano-CaballeroM.Guerra-MarmolejoC.Fernández-FernándezE.García-GámezM. (2021). Perinatal grief and post-traumatic stress disorder in pregnancy after perinatal loss: A longitudinal study protocol. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 2874. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062874
21.
FlachK.GresslerN. G.MarcolinoM. A. Z.LevandowskiD. C. (2022). Complicated grief after the loss of a baby: A systematic review about risk and protective factors for bereaved women. Trends in Psychology, 31(1), 777–811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-021-00112-z
22.
FrostJ.BradleyH.LevitasR.SmithL.GarciaJ. (2007). The loss of possibility: Scientisation of death and the special case of early miscarriage. Sociology of Health & Illness, 29(7), 1003–1022. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2007.01019.x
23.
GüçlüO.ŞenormancıG.TütenA.GökK.ŞenormancıÖ. (2021). Perinatal grief and related factors after termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly: One-year follow-up study. Archives of Neuropsychiatry, 58(3), 221–227. https://doi.org/10.29399/npa.25110
24.
HerbertD.YoungK.PietrusińskaM.MacBethA. (2022). The mental health impact of perinatal loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 297(2), 118–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.026
JansensJ.FaesK.De ConinckM.GilissenJ.Van KelstL. (2024). A qualitative study of bereaved parents and healthcare professionals on perinatal loss. European Journal of Midwifery, 8(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/194159
27.
JarnevingB. (2005). A comparison of two bibliometric methods for mapping of the research front. Scientometrics, 65(2), 245–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-005-0270-7
28.
KaburuE. W.AimakhuC. O.KamauT. M.OworM. O. (2024). Lived experiences and perspectives of women who had undergone perinatal loss in Nairobi county, Kenya: A qualitative study. BMJ Public Health, 2(2), Article e001050. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-001050
LiS. N.YangL.WangQ. Y.PanS.XiaoM. H.XieJ. (2024). Effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for improving the mental health and other psychosocial outcomes of parents with perinatal loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 41(8), Article e2181544. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/2181544
31.
LichtenthalW. G.RobertsK. E.DonovanL. A.BreenL. J.AounS. M.ConnorS. R.WordenJ. W. (2024). Investing in bereavement care as a public health priority. The Lancet Public Health, 9(4), e270–e274. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00030-6
32.
LoučkaM.ZindulkováM.DvořákováH. M.StaníčkováZ.PayneS. A. (2025). Priorities for research in perinatal palliative care: An international Delphi study. BMC Palliative Care, 24(1), 202. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01845-9
33.
LoughnanS.BakhbakhiD.EllwoodD. A.BoyleF.MiddletonP.BurdenC.LudskiK.SaundersR.FlenadyV. (2024). Support for parents and families after stillbirth and neonatal death. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11(2), Article 15798. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD015798
34.
LoughnanS. A.LancasterA.CrockerS.AstellC.GriffinA.WojcieszekA. M.BoyleF.EllwoodD.DeanJ.HoreyD.CallanderE.JacksonC.SeehoS.ShandA.FlenadyV. (2024). Living with loss: Evaluating an internet-based program for parents following perinatal death. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 30(5), 708–732. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2024.2415708
35.
MoherD.LiberatiA.TetzlaffS.AltmanD. G.PRISMA Group. (2010). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. International Journal of Surgery, 8(5), 336–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02007
OngW.HishamH.NordinN. A. M.ZanudinA.HamzaidN. A.MatS.AzizanA. (2025). Bibliometric analysis of research trends in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: Mapping the landscape of scientific publication. Journal of Scientometric Research, 14(1), 188–200. https://doi.org/10.5530/jscires.20251114
38.
ÖztürkO.GürlerG. (2022). Bir literatür incelemesi aracı olarak bibliyometrik analiz (3. Baskı). Nobel Yayınevi.
39.
PehlivanoğluŞ.ÇelikO. T.TokY.SağlamM. (2025). The trends and hotspots of research on adolescent pregnancy: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Prevention, 46(4), 597–614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-025-00836-z
40.
PotvinL.LaskerJ.ToedterL. (1989). Measuring grief: A short version of the perinatal grief scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 11(1), 29–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962697
41.
RentS.GaffurR.NkiniG.SengokaE. G.MlayP.MoyerL. A.LemmonM.DochertyS. L.MmbagaB. T.StationL. A.ShayoA. (2024). Perinatal loss in Tanzenia: Perspectives of maternal-child healthcare provides. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(5), Article e0003227. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.gph00032227
42.
RobertsL. R.NickJ. M.SarpyN. L.PetersJ.TamaresS. (2024). Bereavement care guidelines used in health care facilities immediately following perinatal loss: A scoping review. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 22(10), 2003–2089. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-23-00149
43.
RobinsonD.ZhangL.WangX. (2019). Evaluating the m-index for early-career impact assessment. Scientometrics, 118(3), 1493–1508.
44.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (2024). Care of late intrauterine fetal death and stillbirth (Green-top Guideline No. 55). Author. https://www.rcog.org.uk/media/0fefdrk4/gtg_55.pdf, Retrieved November 15, 2025, at 11:45 PM.
45.
RunkleJ. D.RisleyK. D.RoyM.SuggM. M. (2023). Association between perinatal mental health and pregnancy and neonatal complications: A retrospective birth cohort study. Women's Health Issues, 33(3), 289–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2022.12.001
46.
ShaohuaL.ShoreyS. (2021). Psychosocial interventions on psychological outcomes of parents with perinatal loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 117(4), Article 103871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103871
47.
StanhopeK. K.TempleJ. R.BannC.ParkerC. B.DudleyD.HogueC. J. R. (2021). Variation in self-identified most stressful life event by outcome of previous pregnancy in a population-based sample interviewed 6–36 months following delivery. Social Science & Medicine, 282(5), Article 114138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114138
48.
ToedterJ.LaskerJ. N.JanssenH. J. E. M. (2001). International comparison of studies using the perinatal grief scale: A decade of research on pregnancy loss. Death Studies, 25(3), 205–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481180125971
49.
TurkyilmazG.AtanY. S.ErturkE.TurkyilmazS. (2021). Psychological reactions in women with pregnancy termination due to fetal anomaly. Gynecology Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine, 27(3), 202–206.
50.
UçarT.Sabancı BaranselE.ÇelikO. T. (2025). From grief to resilience: A qualitative study of women’s reactions and coping methods after perinatal loss in Türkiye. BMJ Open, 15(5), Article e092544. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092544
51.
Van EckN.WaltmanL. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523–538.
52.
VoitF. A. C.KajantieE.LemolaS.RäikkönenK.WolkeD.SchnitzleinD. D. (2022). Maternal mental health and adverse birth outcomes. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272210. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272210
53.
WangA. T.TaoY.TaoJ.LiaoX.HuangJ.HuY. (2022). Clinical practice guidelines for perinatal bereavement care: A systematic quality appraisal using the AGREE II instrument. International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, 159(2), 497–505.
54.
World Health Organization. (2021). Maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response: Materials to support implementation. Author.
55.
XieJ.HunterA.BiestyL.GrealishA. (2024). The impact of midwife/nurse-led psychosocial interventions on parents experiencing perinatal bereavement: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 157(2), Article 104814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104814
56.
ZengJ.GuoS.-B.ZhengQ.-X.LinZ.-M.LiuX.-W. (2025). Perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms as mediators between grief and PTSD: The moderated effect of social support. Annals of General Psychiatry, 24(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00603-8
57.
ZengJ.GuoS.-B.ZhengQ.-X.LiuX. W. (2023). The impact of grief on post-traumatic stress reactions among perinatal loss women: A moderated mediation model of perinatal depression and anxiety, and social support. Research Square, (Preprint), Article rs-3294242, Version 1. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3294242/v1
58.
ZhangX.ChenY.ZhaoM.YuanM.ZengT.WuM. (2024). Complicated grief following the perinatal loss: A systematic review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 772. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06986-y
59.
ZhuangS. M.ChenM. Y.MaX. M.JiangJ. J.XiaoG. H.ZhaoY. A.HouJ. W.WangY. H. (2023). The needs of women experiencing perinatal loss: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. Women and Birth, 36(5), 409–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2023.03.007
60.
ZupicI.ČaterT. (2015). Bibliometric methods in management and organization. Organizational Research Methods, 18(3), 429–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629
