A quasi-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of birth companion-based care during first stage of labour, on labour outcome and emotional status among parturient women in selected hospital of Gurugram, Haryana

Abstract

Background: Birth companionship is an effective strategy for improving the standard of care offered during labour and delivery. Despite the numerous advantages of labour companionship, it is not widely practiced. Having a labour companion also reduced anxiety about childbirth and mistreatment, such as unnecessary vaginal examinations and poor communication, when compared to not having a labour companion. Methods: In the present study quantitative approach with a post-test-only control group design was adopted. 60 parturient women were enrolled using a Purposive sampling technique. A 3-point Likert scale was used to assess the emotional status of women. The Mode of Delivery, Duration of the First Stage of Labour and APGAR score were used to evaluate labour outcomes. Partograph was used to assess labor outcomes. Result: The result showed significant improvement in emotional status between Control and experiment group. T test was used to compare the emotional status between experimental and control group which was found to be highly significant as p <0.05. The chi square test was used to evaluate the mode of delivery between the two groups and the difference was found to be significant with a p-value of < 0.05. The duration of the first stage of labour and the APGAR score were compared using an independent t test between two groups, which was found to be significant as p <0.05. Conclusion: Implementation of the birth companion-based care module has significantly improved emotional status and labor outcomes.