Examining the birth experiences of women with and without prenatal education: A qualitative study

Meryem Metinoğlu 1 * , Aylin Yalçın Irmak 1, Ülfiye Çelikkalp 2
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1 Nursing Department, School of Health, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
2 Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
* Corresponding Author
J CLIN MED KAZ, Volume 18, Issue 1, pp. 57-63. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/9657
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ABSTRACT

Aim: This qualitative study examines the intrapartum experiences of nulliparous Turkish women who participated childbirth education classes and only engaged in routine prenatal care.
Material and methods: The study was conducted in a Family Health Center in primary health care service in a metropolitan city in Turkey between October 2015 and June 2016. Women engaged in routine prenatal care (RPC group) (n=17) and women participating in childbirth education classes (CEC group) (n=14) at the maternity unit were included in the study via a purposive sampling method. Data were collected in semi-structured one-on-one interviews with participants. Data were collected by The Socio-Demographic and Obstetric Information Form and The Semi-Structured Interview Form. Number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to evaluate descriptive data.
Results: The average age of the 31 women participating was 29.33±3.75. Within the sample population, majority had an education level of university (67.74%) and a nuclear family structure (90.32%). There was no significant difference (p>.05) between the socio-demographic characteristics of both groups. Of the women participating in CEC, 92.8% in the lithotomy position; none of them received anesthesia. Within this group, 50% received no intervention during labor, while 42.86% received fundal pressure, and episiotomy was applied to 21.43% of participants. All women engaged only in RPC had their birth in the lithotomy position, and 11.76% of them received epidural anesthesia. Interventions applied included episiotomy (76.47%), induced labor (70.59%), fundal pressure (58.82%), continuous Non Stress Test (NST) (58.82%), continuous intravenous infusion (52.94%), and enema (47.05%). The statements analyzed were classified under four themes: (1) satisfaction, (2) compliance with birthing positions, (3) intrinsic concentration and (4) participant control of decision-making.
Conclusion: The childbirth education classes group reported that was implemented the less intrapartum intervention, greater satisfaction, fewer distractions, greater participation in active decision-making, and a greater tendency to use non-pharmacological methods. In contrast, the routine prenatal care group mostly reported passive participation, difficulty in pain and contraction control, and greater dissatisfaction.

CITATION

Metinoğlu M, Yalçın Irmak A, Çelikkalp Ü. Examining the birth experiences of women with and without prenatal education: A qualitative study. J CLIN MED KAZ. 2021;18(1):57-63. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/9657

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