The Expectations of Low and High Risk Pregnant Women Who Seeking Obstetrical Care in a Highly Specialized Hospital

Abstract

Background: In the context of a highly specialized hospital, birth care might be is expected to be more medicalized and technocratic for both low and high risk pregnant women.Objective: This study aimed to explore the expectation of low and high risk pregnant women who seeking an obstetrical care in a highly specialized hospital.Methods: A single case study design was chosen for this study. The case under study was a tertiary and university affiliated hospital in Montreal, Canada. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes, participant observations and self-administered questionnaire. An inductive qualitative content analysis was used.Results: As a whole 157 women were participated in the study. The analysis of data showed that both high and low risk women felt more satisfied with the care they received if they were provided with informed choices, had the right to participate in the decision-making process and were surrounded by competent care providers and obstetric technology. The presence of an attentive care provider during labour who humanly cared for women and her family considered as essential component of birth care by women participant.Conclusion: A birth care provider in a tertiary hospital setting should aim to meet both physiological and psychological aspects of birth care, including respect of the fears, beliefs, values, and needs of women and their families. Integration of competent and caring professionals, as well as the use of obstetric technology, could enhance the level of certainty and assurance in both high-risk and low risk women in a tertiary hospital.