Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia
Background: The World Health Organization recommends companionship as a critical element of respectful maternity care. However, there is paucity of literature regarding women’s attitudes, related factors, and barriers of implementation in Saudi Arabia. Objective: This study aimed to assess women’s a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Women's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231224553 |
| _version_ | 1797341745935024128 |
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| author | Ola Mousa Basma Salameh Mohammed Alqahtani Maryshela David Aishah A Almefarfesh Duaa Al Duhilan Asmaa Saber Ghaly Nourah Alsadaan Fadia Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia Zainab Mohammad Ahmad Alsandal |
| author_facet | Ola Mousa Basma Salameh Mohammed Alqahtani Maryshela David Aishah A Almefarfesh Duaa Al Duhilan Asmaa Saber Ghaly Nourah Alsadaan Fadia Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia Zainab Mohammad Ahmad Alsandal |
| author_sort | Ola Mousa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The World Health Organization recommends companionship as a critical element of respectful maternity care. However, there is paucity of literature regarding women’s attitudes, related factors, and barriers of implementation in Saudi Arabia. Objective: This study aimed to assess women’s attitudes toward birth companionship during labor and delivery, related factors, and barriers of implementing labor companionship in Saudi Arabia. Design/Methods: This study was carried out in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, using a cross-sectional design. The data collection took place over a period of approximately 6 months, specifically from 16 August 2021 to 20 February 2022. A total of 418 women who had given birth at three governmental hospitals and three private hospitals in Al Ahsa participated in the survey. The study included women between the ages of 18 and 49 years who had delivered during the study period. Results: The study revealed that while around 82.8% of mothers expressed a desire for companionship during labor, only 43.2% actually had a labor companion present during delivery. The primary obstacle to labor companionship reported by 21.5% of respondents was hospital policies. Other barriers identified included husbands’ fear of being present during labor (4.7%) and limited availability of time for companionship (3.8%). Conclusion: The study concludes that birth companionship is highly desired by women in the study area. However, various physical, emotional, and institutional barriers, such as hospital policies and regulations, impede its implementation. Addressing these barriers and promoting supportive policies are essential to facilitate the provision of birth companionship and improve the childbirth experience for women in Al Ahsa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:22:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3384d954f30545a99959afe69b26e5c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-5065 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:22:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3384d954f30545a99959afe69b26e5c42024-01-27T15:05:08ZengSAGE PublishingWomen's Health1745-50652024-01-012010.1177/17455057231224553Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi ArabiaOla Mousa0Basma Salameh1Mohammed Alqahtani2Maryshela David3Aishah A Almefarfesh4Duaa Al Duhilan5Asmaa Saber Ghaly6Nourah Alsadaan7Fadia Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia8Zainab Mohammad Ahmad Alsandal9Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Minia, EgyptDepartment of Nursing, Arab American University, Jenin, PalestineDepartment of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Alahsa, Saudi ArabiaObstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptNursing Administration and Education Department, College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaCritical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EgyptMaternity & Children’s Hospital in Al-Ahsa, Hofuf, Saudi ArabiaBackground: The World Health Organization recommends companionship as a critical element of respectful maternity care. However, there is paucity of literature regarding women’s attitudes, related factors, and barriers of implementation in Saudi Arabia. Objective: This study aimed to assess women’s attitudes toward birth companionship during labor and delivery, related factors, and barriers of implementing labor companionship in Saudi Arabia. Design/Methods: This study was carried out in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, using a cross-sectional design. The data collection took place over a period of approximately 6 months, specifically from 16 August 2021 to 20 February 2022. A total of 418 women who had given birth at three governmental hospitals and three private hospitals in Al Ahsa participated in the survey. The study included women between the ages of 18 and 49 years who had delivered during the study period. Results: The study revealed that while around 82.8% of mothers expressed a desire for companionship during labor, only 43.2% actually had a labor companion present during delivery. The primary obstacle to labor companionship reported by 21.5% of respondents was hospital policies. Other barriers identified included husbands’ fear of being present during labor (4.7%) and limited availability of time for companionship (3.8%). Conclusion: The study concludes that birth companionship is highly desired by women in the study area. However, various physical, emotional, and institutional barriers, such as hospital policies and regulations, impede its implementation. Addressing these barriers and promoting supportive policies are essential to facilitate the provision of birth companionship and improve the childbirth experience for women in Al Ahsa.https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231224553 |
| spellingShingle | Ola Mousa Basma Salameh Mohammed Alqahtani Maryshela David Aishah A Almefarfesh Duaa Al Duhilan Asmaa Saber Ghaly Nourah Alsadaan Fadia Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia Zainab Mohammad Ahmad Alsandal Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia Women's Health |
| title | Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Women’s attitudes, prevalence, related factors, and perceived barriers of birth companionship in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | women s attitudes prevalence related factors and perceived barriers of birth companionship in saudi arabia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231224553 |
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