Effectiveness of Video Assisted Childbirth Preparation on Knowledge, Childbirth Experience & Stress

Abstract Background Assessment of women’s childbirth experience is an important indicator of maternal care systems. Positive childbirth experiences improve mothers’ health, whereas negative childbirth experiences can cause psychological stresses and, in extreme cases, may lead to postpartum depression. This study compared childbirth experiences and postpartum depression levels in three groups of primiparous women with no participation, irregular participation, and regular participation in childbirth preparation classes. Methods In this cohort study, 204 primiparous women at 35-37 weeks of gestation were selected using cluster sampling from the health centers of Tabriz, Iran. The participants were assigned to three groups of no participation, irregular participation (attending 1-3 sessions), and regular participation (attending 4-8 sessions) in childbirth preparation classes. Interviews were conducted one month after delivery to complete the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The general linear model (GLM) was used to compare childbirth experience and postpartum depression among groups. Results Based on the general linear model, the mean score of childbirth experience in women in the regular participation group was significantly higher than those of women in irregular participation (P= 0.032) and in no participation (P<0.001) groups. In addition, the mean score of postpartum depression was significantly lower in women in the regular participation group than that of the women in the no participation group (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found between the regular and irregular participation groups in terms of postpartum depression levels (P= 0.257). Conclusion Prenatal training classes improved childbirth experience and reduced postpartum depression levels. These training classes seem to improve mothers’ health by increasing their knowledge and awareness of their abilities to endure labor pain. Ethical Code IR.TBZMED.REC.1398.066

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Assessment of childbirth preparation classes: a parallel convergent mixed study

Reproductive Health ◽

10.1186/s12978-019-0826-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Robab Hassanzadeh ◽

Fatemeh Abbas-Alizadeh ◽

Shahla Meedya ◽

Sakineh Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi ◽

Mojgan Mirghafourvand

Keyword(s):

Depression Scale ◽

Second Phase ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽

Childbirth Experience ◽

Women’S Perceptions ◽

Childbirth Experience Questionnaire ◽

Childbirth Preparation ◽

The Impact ◽

Experience Questionnaire

Abstract Background Women’s fear from childbirth has been associated with increased medical interventions and traumatized birth experience. Although antenatal education is a crucial factor to empower and prepare women for their birth journey, it is not clear how Iranian childbirth classes can influence women’s fear and prepare them positively towards childbirth. This research is designed to evaluate childbirth preparation classes and their impact on women’s perception on their childbirth experiences. Methods/design This mixed method study with the parallel convergent design has two phases. The first phase will be a quantitative cohort study with 204 primiparous pregnant women at the gestational age of 35–37 weeks. The participants will be divided into three groups based on the number of their attendance into the childbirth preparation classes: a) regular participation (4 to 8 sessions), b) irregular participation (1 to 3 sessions), and c) no-participation. Participant will be followed-up to 1 month after birth. Antenatal data will be collected by using a demographic survey questionnaire, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ, version A), the Van den Bergh Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Childbirth Preparation Classes Questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Knowledge regarding pregnancy and childbirth Questionnaire. Postnatal data will be collected by using an Obstetric and Labor Characteristics Questionnaire, EPDS, and Childbirth experience questionnaire (CEQ). The quantitative data will be analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the multivariate linear regression. The second phase of the study will be a qualitative study that will explore the women’s perceptions on the impact of participation in childbirth preparation classes on their childbirth experience. The sampling in this phase will be purposeful and the participants will be studied individually by using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data will be analyzed through content analysis with conventional approach. Discussion Assessing the impact of childbirth preparation classes on women’s childbirth experience in Iran will lead to developing recommendations about the content and quality of the childbirth classes that can improve women’s’ preparation towards positive childbirth.

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