A study on the predictors of childbirth experience in women with vaginal birth in China

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the current situation and influencing factors of the childbirth experience of women with vaginal birth in China.

Methods

A total of 481 women were surveyed using a general information questionnaire and a childbirth experience questionnaire.

Results

Significant differences in the scores for childbirth experience were found for 13 factors, including expected mode of delivery, number of births, time since last childbirth, methods used to access information, childbirth-related fear/anxiety, confidence in completing the delivery vaginally, total labor time, mode of delivery, the use of epidural anesthetic, gender preference for the newborn, primary caregiver during hospitalization, and general scores of fathers' childbirth experience. Stepwise multiple linear regression indicated that total labor time, fathers’ general childbirth experience scores, knowledge regarding delivery, delivery-related fear/anxiety, confidence in completing the delivery vaginally, mode of delivery, primary caregiver during hospitalization, and ethnicity explained 25.1% of the variation in responses to the childbirth experience questionnaire.

Conclusion

To improve the childbirth experience, medical and healthcare staff should increase maternal knowledge regarding vaginal delivery, reduce maternal fear and anxiety as well as the use of forceps and lateral incisions, and encourage spouses to be the primary caregivers during hospitalization.