The relationship between womens perception of support and control during childbirth on fear of birth and mothers satisfaction
Abstract
The study was conducted in order to determine the relationship between women’s perception of support and control during childbirth on fear of birth and mother’s satisfaction. This descriptive study was
carried out at the postpartum clinics of a state hospital. Seven hundred and twenty-five puerperal
women were included in the sample. T test in independent groups and Pearson’s correlation test were
used in the evaluation of the data. Seventy-six percent of the puerperal women had vaginal birth, 24%
had caesarean section. The mother’s perception of control and support at birth was moderate
(99.04 ± 17.30), the fear of birth was at clinical level in most of them (92.8%), and the satisfaction at
vaginal and caesarean births was low. Puerperal women who had a planned pregnancy, non-invasive
birth, birth without perineal tear had higher support and control perception at birth and lower fear of
birth than who had unplanned pregnancy, invasive birth, or birth with a perineal tear (p<.05).
Puerperal women who did not have any health problems during pregnancy and postpartum period
had higher satisfaction levels compared to those who did (p<.05). The high level of perception of support and control at birth decreases the fear of childbirth and increases the satisfaction levels of puerperal women in vaginal and caesarean births. All health professionals, especially perinatal nurses and
midwives, should strive to implement care initiatives that are appropriate to the needs of women.