Marit S G van der Pijl1, Marlies Kasperink1, Martine H Hollander2, Corine Verhoeven1,3,4, Elselijn Kingma5,6, Ank de Jonge1. 1. Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG/Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 2. Amalia Children's Hospital, Department of Obstetrics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 3. Division of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Philosophy, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom. 6. Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences, Philosophy & Ethics, Technical University Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Respectful Maternity Care is important for achieving a positive labour and birth experience. Client-care provider interaction-specifically respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy-is an important aspect of Respectful Maternity Care. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to assess Dutch women's experience of respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy during labour and birth and (2) to identify which client characteristics are associated with experiencing optimal respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy. METHODS: Pregnant women and women who recently gave birth in the Netherlands were recruited to fill out a validated web-based questionnaire (ReproQ). Mean scores per domain (scale 1-4) were calculated. Domains were dichotomised in non-optimal (score 1, 2,3) and optimal client-care provider interaction (score 4), and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of the 1367 recruited women, 804 respondents completed the questionnaire and 767 respondents completed enough questions to be included for analysis. Each domain had a mean score above 3.5. The domain confidentiality had the highest proportion of optimal scores (64.0%), followed by respect (53.3%), communication (45.1%) and autonomy (36.2%). In all four domains, women who gave birth at home with a community midwife had a higher proportion of optimal scores than women who gave birth in the hospital with a (resident) obstetrician or hospital-based midwife. Lower education level, being multiparous and giving birth spontaneously were also significantly associated with a higher proportion of optimal scores in (one of) the domains. DISCUSSION: This study shows that on average women scored high on experienced client-care provider interaction in the domains respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy. At the same time, client-care provider interaction in the Netherlands still fell short of being optimal for a large number of women, in particular regarding women's autonomy. These results show there is still room for improvement in client-care provider interaction during labour and birth.
INTRODUCTION: Respectful Maternity Care is important for achieving a positive labour and birth experience. Client-care provider interaction-specifically respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy-is an important aspect of Respectful Maternity Care. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to assess Dutch women's experience of respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy during labour and birth and (2) to identify which client characteristics are associated with experiencing optimal respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy. METHODS: Pregnant women and women who recently gave birth in the Netherlands were recruited to fill out a validated web-based questionnaire (ReproQ). Mean scores per domain (scale 1-4) were calculated. Domains were dichotomised in non-optimal (score 1, 2,3) and optimal client-care provider interaction (score 4), and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of the 1367 recruited women, 804 respondents completed the questionnaire and 767 respondents completed enough questions to be included for analysis. Each domain had a mean score above 3.5. The domain confidentiality had the highest proportion of optimal scores (64.0%), followed by respect (53.3%), communication (45.1%) and autonomy (36.2%). In all four domains, women who gave birth at home with a community midwife had a higher proportion of optimal scores than women who gave birth in the hospital with a (resident) obstetrician or hospital-based midwife. Lower education level, being multiparous and giving birth spontaneously were also significantly associated with a higher proportion of optimal scores in (one of) the domains. DISCUSSION: This study shows that on average women scored high on experienced client-care provider interaction in the domains respect, communication, confidentiality and autonomy. At the same time, client-care provider interaction in the Netherlands still fell short of being optimal for a large number of women, in particular regarding women's autonomy. These results show there is still room for improvement in client-care provider interaction during labour and birth.
Authors: Anna Seijmonsbergen-Schermers; Thomas van den Akker; Katrien Beeckman; Annick Bogaerts; Monalisa Barros; Patricia Janssen; Lorena Binfa; Eva Rydahl; Lucy Frith; Mechthild M Gross; Berglind Hálfdánsdóttir; Deirdre Daly; Jean Calleja-Agius; Patricia Gillen; Anne Britt Vika Nilsen; Eugene Declercq; Ank de Jonge Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-01-10 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Cherelle M V van Stenus; Mark Gotink; Magda M Boere-Boonekamp; Anneke Sools; Ariana Need Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2017-06-12 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: L L Peters; M S G van der Pijl; S Vedam; W S Barkema; M T van Lohuizen; D E M C Jansen; E I Feijen-de Jong Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-02-18 Impact factor: 3.007