Examining the experience of childbirth and its predictors among women who have recently given birth

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the experience of childbirth and its predictors among women who have recently given birth.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Methods: This study was conducted on 225 women at 22 Bahman Hospital in Khaf City, Iran. The samples were selected by the continuous sampling method from August to November 2018. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire, fertility information, pregnancy experience scale, satisfaction from birth environment inventory and the childbirth experience questionnaire.

Results: The mean score of childbirth experience was 55.73. According to the regression model, the husband's education, receiving regular care during pregnancy, the person giving birth, presence of a companion, receiving spinal anaesthesia, perineal conditions, being uplifted and hassled about the pregnancy and satisfaction with the birth environment were the predictors of childbirth experience. The regression model showed 39.8% of the change in outcome variable was predicted by independent variables.

Keywords: childbirth experience; pregnancy experience; presence of a companion; satisfaction with the birth environment.