Cultural and religious aspects of phantom pregnancy in Haiti: A case study

Objectives. This clinical study is about phantom pregnancy in Haiti, a condition known as ``pedisyon'' in Haitian Creole culture. It aims to highlight issues relating to socio-cultural and religious beliefs and the cleavages they cause in the psyche. Method. Through a clinical case, this reflection was based on a clinical care system implemented by a non-governmental organization involved with women in Haiti after the earthquake of January 12, 2010. Results. Three aspects of this issue are evidenced: the real psychic distress of phantom pregnancy; the desire for children and the related imaginary constructions; the meaning and the benefits for the woman concerned. Discussion. The woman's body appears both as the substrate for the projection of suffering and as the substrate of cultural and religious beliefs making it possible to cope with this suffering. Conclusion. It appears that to be effective, support for these women should take into account all these aspects in order to allow the patient to reconnect with her subjectivity. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.