Experience of Labour and Childbirth in a Sample of Portuguese Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Childbirth is a profoundly personal experience that often does not align with expectations. The World Health Organization has established guidelines for best practises; in this sense, it is crucial to understand the childbirth experiences of Portuguese women in comparison with these guidelines. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted to achieve this. In total, 615 women completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Labour and Childbirth Experience questionnaire, which comprised 39 statements based on the WHO's recommendations. Additionally, the study utilized the Life Satisfaction Scale and gathered insights into participants' overall perception of care during this phase. RESULTS: The results were categorized as follows: (1) practises influencing the labour experience; (2) practises influencing the experience of vaginal birth; (3) practises affecting the experience of caesarean birth; and (4) emotional experience during labour and birth. CONCLUSIONS: Notably, the study found that practises discouraged by the WHO are still prevalent, potentially enabling obstetric violence. However, a robust and statistically significant correlation was observed between the childbirth experience and the overall perception of care.
Source: Healthcare
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,069
OpenAlex ID: W4403771912