Study On Correlation Between Fathers' And Mothers' Childbirth Experience With Vaginal Birth

Background:Some researchers believed that the fathers' experences of accompany childbirth may affect mothers' childbirth experience.However,other researchers haved different opinions.Previous studies mainly focused on qualitative research with phenomenological analysis of interview data,which could not verify objective facts and causality,and there are cultural differences between foreign countries and China.Therefore,quantitative research methods should be used to explore the relationship between fathers'and mothers' childbirth experience,clarify the correlation between them and their influencing factors,so as to further improve fathers' experences of accompany childbirth and mothers' childbirth experience.Objectives:(1)To investigate current situation and the influencing factors of childbirth experience of women with vaginal birth.(2)To investigate current situation and the influencing factors of fathers' experences of accompany childbirth.(3)To investigate the correlation between fathers' and mothers' childbirth experience.Methods:Totally 481 women and their spouses were surveyed by the general information questionnaire,childbirth experience questionnaire and fathers' experences of childbirth questionnaire.Results:Among 481 parturients and their spouses,362 were primiparas(75.26%),and 119 were multiparas(24.74%).The average age of the parturient was 31.1±3.7 years(20?43 years),and the average age of the parturient spouse was 33.0 ± 4.1 years(23?52 years).The total score of mothers' childbirth experience was 68.94±9.41(35?92),among which the score of safety perception dimension was the highest(18.46±3.53)and the score of participatory dimension was the lowest(12.61±2.57).The total score of fathers' experiences of accompany childbirth was 132.71 ± 12.73(95?169),among which the score of feelings about the staff and the environment dimension was the highest(42.09±4.49)and the score of feeling for wife dimension was the lowest(25.56±3.25).Significant difference of score of childbirth experience were found among different nation,presence of with/without health care insurance,expected way of delivery,number of births,the time between the last delivery and the current delivery,participation in maternity schools,awareness of natural childbirth processes,awareness of accompanying delivery,anxiety/fear of childbirth,confidence of completing vaginal delivery,total labor time,the delivery situation,the use of epidural anesthesia,gender preference for newborn,main caregiver and total score of fathers' experences of childbirth(t/F value was 2.513,2.473,9.298,7.795,3.359,2.336,2.986,8.923,2.273,22.964,12.152,14.180,18.314,6.507,8.289,and 47.468,respectively,all P<0.2).Significant difference of score of fathers'experiences of accompany childbirth were found among different level of education,only child or not,main caregiver in hospital,gender preference for newborn,relationship of husband and wife,motivation of accompanies childbirth,time of decide to participate in childbirth,participation in maternity schools,curriculum of maternity school,other ways to gain knowledge about childbirth,awareness of natural childbirth processes,awareness of accompanying delivery processes,anxiety/fear of childbirth,confidence of completing accompany delivery,gender preference for newborn,number of births,the experience of accompany delivery,the delivery situation,the use of epidural anesthesia and total score of childbirth experience of women with vaginal birth(t/F value was3.118,2.278,10.750,2.594,1.937,2.717 1.877,7.472,2.327,6.181,8.920,8.580,20.485,35.616,8.768,1.698,2.859,6.088,0.075 and 47.468 respectively,all P<0.2).Results of multiple liner regression indicated that total labor time,awareness of natural childbirth processes,anxiety/fear of childbirth,confidence of completing vaginal delivery,the delivery situation,main caregiver,nation and total score of fathers' experences of accompany childbirth explained 25.10%of the variation in mothers' childbirth experience.Anxiety/fear of childbirth,confidence of completing accompany delivery,participation in maternity schools,and total score of mothers' childbirth experience explained 26.40%of the variation in fathers' experences of accompany childbirth.Conclusion:The influencing factors of mothers' childbirth experience were total labor time,awareness of natural childbirth processes,anxiety/fear of childbirth,confidence of completing vaginal delivery,the delivery situation,main caregiver,nation and total score of fathers' experences of accompany childbirth etc.The influencing factors of fathers' experences of accompany childbirth were anxiety/fear of childbirth,confidence of completing accompany delivery,participate in birthing experience classes,child gender expectationspreference for newborn,and total score of mothers' childbirth experience,etc.There was a positive correlation between fathers,and mothers,experences of childbirth.In order to improve the childbirth experience of mothers and their spouses,they should be encouraged to take part in the delivery experience class,so as to reduce the fear and anxiety of childbirth.In addition,healthcare providers should give more knowledge,information and emotional support to fathers,increase their confidence in accompany childbirth,enhance mothers' childbirth experience and then obtain a good delivery outcome.