Lena Henriksen1, Elisabeth Grimsrud2, Berit Schei3, Mirjam Lukasse4. 1. Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 4 St. Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway; Division of General Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, P.O Box 4950 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: lena.henriksen@hioa.no. 2. Division of General Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Oslo University Hospital, P.O Box 4950 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: elisgrim@hotmail.com. 3. Department of Public Health and General Practice at the Faculty of Medicine, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Håkon Jarls gate 11, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Gynecology at the Women's Clinic, St.Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Postbox 3250 Sluppen, N-7006 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: Berit.Schei@ntnu.no. 4. Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 4 St. Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: mirjam.lukasse@hioa.no.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: this study aimed to explore factors associated with a negative childbirth experience including descriptions from women themselves. DESIGN: we performed a mixed methods study based on data from the Norwegian cohort of the Bidens study, including a total of 1352 multiparous women. Quantitative information was analysed in addition to thematic analysis of 103 free-text comments provided by women with a prior negative childbirth experience. KEY FINDINGS: the total prevalence of a negative birth experience was 21.1%. A negative experience was associated with fear of birth (AOR: 5.00 95% CI 3.40-7.23) and a history of abuse (AOR 1.34 95% CI 1.01-1.79) in multivariate analysis. Women who indicated they were para 2 were less likely or report a negative childbirth (AOR 0.66 95% CI 0.46-0.94). Three major themes were identified: 'complications for mother, child or both', 'not being seen or heard'; and 'experience of pain and loss of control'. The majority of respondents reported experiences of unexpected and dramatic complications during childbirth. Further, several of the respondents felt a lack of support, that they had not been treated with respect or included in decisions regarding their birth. A minority described pain and loss of control as the main reason for their negative birth experience. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: comments by the women show that they were unprepared for complications and inadequate care during birth. The feeling of not being seen or heard during childbirth contributed to a negative experience. Midwives can use the information gained from this study to prevent negative birth experiences.
OBJECTIVE: this study aimed to explore factors associated with a negative childbirth experience including descriptions from women themselves. DESIGN: we performed a mixed methods study based on data from the Norwegian cohort of the Bidens study, including a total of 1352 multiparous women. Quantitative information was analysed in addition to thematic analysis of 103 free-text comments provided by women with a prior negative childbirth experience. KEY FINDINGS: the total prevalence of a negative birth experience was 21.1%. A negative experience was associated with fear of birth (AOR: 5.00 95% CI 3.40-7.23) and a history of abuse (AOR 1.34 95% CI 1.01-1.79) in multivariate analysis. Women who indicated they were para 2 were less likely or report a negative childbirth (AOR 0.66 95% CI 0.46-0.94). Three major themes were identified: 'complications for mother, child or both', 'not being seen or heard'; and 'experience of pain and loss of control'. The majority of respondents reported experiences of unexpected and dramatic complications during childbirth. Further, several of the respondents felt a lack of support, that they had not been treated with respect or included in decisions regarding their birth. A minority described pain and loss of control as the main reason for their negative birth experience. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: comments by the women show that they were unprepared for complications and inadequate care during birth. The feeling of not being seen or heard during childbirth contributed to a negative experience. Midwives can use the information gained from this study to prevent negative birth experiences.
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