Assessment of the Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with the Satisfaction Related to the Childbirth Experience

Elie Al Ahmar, Samir Tarraf

Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon.

DOI: 10.4236/ojog.2014.410083                

Abstract

Assessment of the socio-demographic factors associated with the satisfaction is related to the childbirth experience. Objective: A mother’s satisfaction with the childbirth experience may have instant and lasting effects on her wellbeing, and on the bonding with her infant. The main aim of the study was to assess which socio-demographic factors are associated with this satisfaction. Most factors that authors agree on are: Pain intensity, personal control, self-efficacy, length of labor, method of delivery and numerous other demographic factors. Design: A cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a self-reported survey. Settings: The sample consisted of 100 women, selected from St Georges Hospital and CHU-NDS, who had to speak Arabic and had given birth in the past three days prior to interview. Methods: The multiple linear regressions and the mean test were used to assess which factors were associated with a positive childbirth experience. The Mackey childbirth satisfaction scale, three items from the Wijma delivery Expectancy/Experience questionnaire, a seven item mastery scale developed by Pearlin and Schooler and a background questionnaire were filled by women. Findings: Factors that were linked to a positive birth experience were: Higher age, multiparous women, higher education, high monthly income, unemployment, childbirth preparation, high personal control and self-efficacy, high childbirth and labor pain, fulfilled expectations, shorter period of labor and instrumented delivery. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that satisfaction with the childbirth experience is multi-dimensional with diverse factors foreseeing diverse dimensions of satisfaction.

Keywords

Childbirth Experience, Satisfaction, Personal Control, Self-Efficacy, Mother

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Rubin, R. (1961) Puerperal Change. Nursing Outlook, 9, 753-755.
[2]	Brockington, I.F. (2004) Diagnosis and Management of Post-Partum Disorders: A Review. World Psychiatry, 3, 89-95.
[3]	Lundgren, I. (2005) Swedish Women’s Experience of Childbirth 2 Years after Birth. Midwifery, 21, 346-354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2005.01.001
[4]	Mozingo, J.N., Davis, M.W., Thomas, S.P. and Droppleman, P.G. (2002) “I Felt Violated”: Women’s Experience of Childbirth-Associated Anger. NCN, American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 27, 342-348. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005721-200211000-00009
[5]	Lee, C. (2000) Psychology of Women’s Health: A Critique. In: Ussher, J.M., Ed., Women’s Health: Contemporary International Perspectives, British Psychological Society, Leicester.
[6]	O’Connor, T.G., Heron, J., Golding, J., Beveridge, M. and Glover, V. (2002) Maternal Antenatal Anxiety and Children Behavioural/ Emotional Problems at 4 Years: Report from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 502-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.180.6.502
[7]	Jomeen, J. (2004) The Importance of Assessing Psychological Status during Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Postnatal Period as a Multidimensional Construct: A Literature Review. Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing, 8, 143-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cein.2005.02.001
[8]	Jones, D.R., Rantakallio, P., Hartikainen, A.L., Matti, I. and Sipila, P. (1998) Schizophrenia as a Long Term Outcome of Pregnancy, Delivery and Perinatal Complications: A 28 Yeas Follow up of the 1966 North Finland Population Birth Cohort. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 355-364.
[9]	Seeley, S., Murray, L. and Cooper, P.J. (1996) The Outcome for Mothers and Babies of Health Visitor Intervention. Health Visitor, 69, 135-138.
[10]	Otchet, F., Carey, M.A. and Adam, L. (1999) General Health and Psychological Symptom Status in Pregnancy and the Puerperium. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 94, 935-941. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(99)00439-1
[11]	Mckee, M.D., Cunningham, M., Jankowski, K.R.B. and Zayas, L. (2001) Health-Related Functional Status in Pregnancy: Relationship to Depression and Social Support in a Multi-Ethnic Population. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 97, 993-998. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(01)01377-1
[12]	Wilkie, G. and Shapiro, C.M. (1992) Sleep Deprivation and the Postnatal Blues. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 36, 309-316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(92)90067-C
[13]	McVeigh, C. and Smith, M. (2000) A Comparison of Adult and Teenage Mother’s Self-Esteem and Satisfaction with Social Support. Midwifery, 16, 269-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1054/midw.2000.0226
[14]	Jenkin, W. and Tiggemann, M. (1997) Psychological Effects of Weight Retained after Pregnancy. Women and Heath, 25, 89-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J013v25n01_06
[15]	Bowman, M.A, Herndon, A., Sharp, P.C. and Digman, M.B. (1992) Assessment of the Patient-Doctor Interaction Scale for Measuring Patient Satisfaction. Patient Education and Counseling, 19, 75-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0738-3991(92)90103-P
[16]	Goodman, P., Mackey, M.C. and Tavakoli, A. (2004) Factors Related to Childbirth Satisfaction. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46, 212-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2003.02981.x
[17]	Simkin, P. (1991) Just Another Day in a Woman’s life? Women’s Long-Term Perceptions of Their First Birth Experience. Part I. Birth, 18, 203-211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.1991.tb00103.x
[18]	Larsson, C., Saltvedt, S., Edman, G., Wiklund, G. and Andolf, E. (2011) Factors Independently Related to a Negative Birth Experience in First-Time Mothers. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 2, 83-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2010.11.003
[19]	Kinsey, C. and Hupcey, J. (2013) State of the Science of Maternal-Infant Bonding: A Principle-Based Concept of Analysis. Midwifery, 29, 1314-1320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2012.12.019
[20]	Christiaens, W. and Bracke, P. (2007) Assessment of Social Psychological Determinants of Satisfaction with Childbirth in a Cross-National Perspective. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 7, 26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-7-26
[21]	Larkin, P., Begley, C. and Devane, D. (2012) “Not Enough People to Look after You”: An Exploration of Women’s Experiences of Childbirth in the Republic of Ireland. Midwifery, 28, 98-105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2010.11.007
[22]	Gibbins, J. and Thomson, A. (2001) Women’s Expectations and Experiences of Childbirth. Midwifery, 17, 302-313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1054/midw.2001.0263
[23]	Hauck, Y., Fenwick, J., Downie, J. and Butt, J. (2007) The Influence of Childbirth Expectations on Western Australian Women’s Perceptions of Their Birth Experience. Midwifery, 23, 235-247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2006.02.002
[24]	Fisher, C., Hauck, Y. and Fenwick, J. (2006) How Social Context Impacts on Women’s Fears of Childbirth: A Western Australian Example. Social Science & Medicine, 63, 65-75.
[25]	Lavender, T., Walkinshaw, S. and Walton, I. (1999) A Prospective Study of Women’s Views of Factors Contributing to a Positive Birth Experience. Midwifery, 15, 40-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0266-6138(99)90036-0
[26]	Escott, D., Slade, P. and Spiby, H. (2009) Preparation for Pain Management during Childbirth: The Psychological Aspects of Coping Strategy Development in Antenatal Education. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 617-622. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.07.002
[27]	Mackey, M.C. (1998) Women’s Evaluation of Their Labor and Delivery Experience. Nursing Connections, 11, 19-32.
[28]	Callister, L., Khalaf, I., Kartchner, R., Semenic, S. and Vehvilainen-Julknen, K. (2003) The Pain of Childbirth: Perceptions of Culturally Diverse Women. Pain Management Nursing, 4, 145-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1524-9042(03)00028-6
[29]	Fenwick, J., Hauck, Y., Downie, J. and Butt, J. (2005) The Childbirth Expectations of a Self-Selected Cohort of Western Australian Women. Midwifery, 21, 23-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2004.07.001
[30]	Darvill, R., Skirton, H. and Farrand, P. (2010) Psychological Factors That Impact on Women’s Experiences of First-Time Motherhood: A Qualitative Study of the Transition. Midwifery, 26, 357-366. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2008.07.006
[31]	Kasrlstom, A., Nystedt, A. and Hildingsson, I. (2011) A Comparative Study of the Experience of Childbirth between Women Who Preferred and Had a Caesarean Section and Women Who Preferred and Had a Vaginal Birth. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 2, 93-99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2011.03.002
[32]	Nystedt, A., Hogberg, U. and Lundman, B. (2006) Some Swedish Women’s Experiences of Prolonged Labour. Midwifery, 22, 56-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2005.05.003