The observance of maternal rights charter in labor with postpartum anxiety in mothers delivering at maternity hospitals

Introduction

One of the effective factors in reducing postpartum mental illnesses, such as anxiety, is observing maternal rights and mothers' positive attitude about childbirth. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal rights charter observance during labor and postpartum anxiety.

Materials and methods

This was a cross-sectional study. We investigated the observance of maternal rights charter using a researcher-made questionnaire. Postpartum anxiety was investigated using Spielberger questionnaire. The relationship between these 2 factors was investigated via studying 160 eligible pregnant mothers admitted in Hazrat Zeinab, Hafez, and Shooshtari hospitals. Data were analyzed through SPSS software (version 16), using one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient at the significant level of 5%.

Results

There a was a significant relationship between the delivery team members in terms of dimensions in the maternal rights charter (p = .003) and general dimensions (p = .001). This difference was in emotional (p = .001) and informational (p = .013) dimensions. There was no significant difference in physical dimension (p = .070). Among the participants, 93.75% had implicit anxiety and 83.75% had explicit anxiety.

Conclusions

Failure to observe maternal rights charter was associated with an increase in explicit and implicit postpartum anxiety. Maternal rights in the physical aspect were observed equally by the midwife instructor, staff, and residents. However, there was a difference in the emotional and informational dimensions of the members of the delivery team.