Predictors of traumatic birth experience among a group of Iranian primipara women: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background Traumatic birth experience has undesirable effects on the life of the mother, child, family, and society. The identification of predictive factors can be useful in improving birth experiences among women. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of a traumatic birth experience and identify its predictors among a group primiparous women. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 64 health centres in Tabriz, the second largest city in Iran. Cluster sampling was used to recruit 800 eligible women at one to 4 months postpartum. The Persian version of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was used to measure the womens’ birth experiences. Data were collected through face to face interviews and analysed mainly by multivariable logistic regression. Results The prevalence of traumatic birth experience was 37% in the study group. The independent predictors of the traumatic birth experience were related to antenatal and intrapartum factors. The antenatal predictor was the lack of exercise during pregnancy (OR = 2.81, CI 1.40–5.63, P = .003) and the intrapartum predictors were the absence of pain relief during labour and birth (OR = 4.24, CI 2.12–8.50, P < .001), and the fear of childbirth (OR = 3.47, CI 1.68–7.19, P < .001). Conclusions The findings revealed the high rate of traumatic birth experience among the primimarous women and identified the importance of a woman-centered care where a woman can actively make decision about the care she receives receive during labour and birth. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-019-2333-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Adaptation of short version of questionnaire for assessing the childbirth experience (QACE) to the Iranian culture

“…In Carquillat et al's study [10], the minimum and maximum values of factor loading were, respectively, 0.62 for "I feel regret" and 0.89 for "I held my baby for the first time when I felt like it." The observed differences in the correlation between the factors and factor loading can be due to the difference in the context of the present study and that of the Carquillat [21] and none of the participants in the present study received it.…”

Prevalence and predictors of perceived disrespectful maternity care in postpartum Iranian women: a cross-sectional study

“…High levels of perceived disrespectful maternity care in Iran may appear to be due to the fact that childbirth in Iran is not women-centered and mainly focused on medical interventions. Episiotomy for primiparous women and use of oxytocin during labour are regarded as acceptable and routine procedures in Iran without informed consent of women or any involvement in the decision making process [19,20]. Whereas in European countries less than half of the women receive oxytocin or episiotomy during labour [21,22] and routine use of oxytocin or episiotomy without permission of the woman is considered obstetric violence [23,24].…”

Respectful maternity care and its relationship with childbirth experience in Iranian women: a prospective cohort study

“…Traumatic childbirth experience varies from country to country (the Netherlands 0.16% [6], Sweden 0.7% [7], Norway 21% [8] and Iran 37% [9]). Different intrapartum factors can affect the experience of traumatic childbirth.…”

“…Different intrapartum factors can affect the experience of traumatic childbirth. For example, fear of childbirth, failure to take analgesics [9], lack of support [10], and transferring the newborn to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) [11] can be among risk factors for traumatic childbirth. In a cross sectional study among 800 Iranian women, absence of pain relief during labour and the fear of childbirth were the main intrapartum predicting factors for a traumatic birth experience [9].…”