Nawal Abdulghani1, Amanda Cooklin2, Kristina Edvardsson2, Lisa H Amir2. 1. Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: n.abdulghani@latrobe.edu.au. 2. Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
PROBLEM: The World Health Organization recommends immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth, however, worldwide, separation of mothers and infant is common. BACKGROUND: In Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of research exploring mothers' experiences of skin-to-skin contact after birth. AIM: To estimate the rate of skin-to-skin contact and describe mothers' perceptions and experiences of immediate skin-to-skin contact after vaginal birth in two largest hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2017. A total of 254 mothers completed the survey on the postnatal ward (92 % response rate). The survey consisted of 36 closed and open-ended items. Data were described using summary statistics and free text comments were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: The rate of direct skin-to-skin contact was 15%. A further 54% of mothers had the baby placed on their chest/abdomen but with a sheet/gown between them. Mothers reported favourable perceptions towards skin-to-skin contact and reported the practice as acceptable (67%). Most mothers did not express concerns about feeling exposed (85%) or that skin-to-skin contact was inconsistent with norms of modesty or culture (87%). The free text comments indicated that most mothers felt positive about their experience of skin-to-skin contact, while some mothers felt overwhelmed and unprepared. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Skin-to-skin contact was not routinely implemented after birth and the rate was low. Mothers held positive perceptions and wanted to practice skin-to-skin contact. Policy makers and clinicians should acknowledge mothers' needs and feelings by facilitating skin-to-skin contact to achieve optimal outcomes for mothers and infants. Crown
PROBLEM: The World Health Organization recommends immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth, however, worldwide, separation of mothers and infant is common. BACKGROUND: In Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of research exploring mothers' experiences of skin-to-skin contact after birth. AIM: To estimate the rate of skin-to-skin contact and describe mothers' perceptions and experiences of immediate skin-to-skin contact after vaginal birth in two largest hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2017. A total of 254 mothers completed the survey on the postnatal ward (92 % response rate). The survey consisted of 36 closed and open-ended items. Data were described using summary statistics and free text comments were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: The rate of direct skin-to-skin contact was 15%. A further 54% of mothers had the baby placed on their chest/abdomen but with a sheet/gown between them. Mothers reported favourable perceptions towards skin-to-skin contact and reported the practice as acceptable (67%). Most mothers did not express concerns about feeling exposed (85%) or that skin-to-skin contact was inconsistent with norms of modesty or culture (87%). The free text comments indicated that most mothers felt positive about their experience of skin-to-skin contact, while some mothers felt overwhelmed and unprepared. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Skin-to-skin contact was not routinely implemented after birth and the rate was low. Mothers held positive perceptions and wanted to practice skin-to-skin contact. Policy makers and clinicians should acknowledge mothers' needs and feelings by facilitating skin-to-skin contact to achieve optimal outcomes for mothers and infants. Crown