Background and aim
Effective support given by a midwife during labor and childbirth is associated with numerous positive outcomes. Yet the delivery of such support can be hindered by negative workplace cultures. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between attitude and self-efficacy of labor support and labor supportive behaviors from the perspectives of midwives working in Iran.
Methods
Midwives (n = 213) employed in the labor wards of selected hospitals in an urban area of Iran participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling from December 2016 to September 2017. The data were collected using a personal characteristics tool, the Labor Support Questionnaire, the Self-efficacy Labor Support Scale, and attitudes toward the Labor Support Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics along with multiple linear regression was used for data analysis.
Results
Participants had a supportive behavior score of 74.98 for mean (SD ± 13.39). The informational support dimension had the highest reported score of the supportive behaviors, whereas the tangible support dimension had the lowest score. The mean scores of attitude and self-efficacy toward labor support were 24.79 (SD ± 4.14) and 79.83 (SD ± 13.82). There were also statistically significant correlations between attitude and self-efficacy, and labor support behaviors and its dimensions. Multiple linear regression analysis results indicated that interests in occupation, attitude, and self-efficacy were predictors of labor supportive behaviors.
Conclusion
Midwives’ level of interest in the profession, attitude, and self-efficacy of labor support were significantly associated with labor support behaviors. Thus midwives’ interest in their profession, along with their attitudes and self-efficacy could usefully be developed to enhance their supportive behaviors during labor.
Background and Aim: Childbirth is one of the important events in women's life, and labor support is an important tissue, because the experience of giving birth may have a positive or negative impact on the women. Considering lack of a suitable questionnaire for measuring labor support behaviors, the present study aimed to translate and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the labor support questionnaire. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 213 midwives in maternity hospitals of selected medical universities in Tehran from January 2017 to September 2017. Midwives were requested to complete demographic and also labor support questionnaires. At first, we assessed the face and content validity of the instrument qualitatively, and then its construct validity was carried out by confirmatory factor analysis. In order to evaluate the reliability of the instrument, internal consistency and test-retest were used . Results: Qualitative face and content validity of the Persian version of the labor support questionnaire were approved. Also, the construct validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.96 and the Pearson correlation coefficient of the t-test was 0.71, which were indicative of appropriate reliability of the Persian version of the questionnaire.
Conclusion:The findings of this study showed that the Persian version of the labor support questionnaire had the necessary validity and reliability. Therefore, this questionnaire can be used as an appropriate instrument for Iranian midwives.
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