Kontakt 2019, 21(3):291-297 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2019.039

Women's satisfaction with the activities performed by a support person during birthNursing - Original article

Eva Urbanová, Martina Bašková ^*, Erika Maskálová, Anna Šrenkelová

Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Midwifery, Martin, Slovak Republic

The presence of a support person during birth increases the quality of health care, improves birth outcomes and increases women's satisfaction with birth. The main objective of this study was to ascertain the overall satisfaction of women with the activities performed by a support person during birth. The satisfaction was assessed in the four key areas of support: physical, psychological, emotional and informational.

Methods: The study has a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 166 women who had a support person during birth. A non-standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on women's satisfaction in the four basic areas of specific activities provided by support persons: physical, psychological, emotional and informational. A satisfaction level with performed activities was analysed. The findings showed a woman's partner was the most frequent support person (156 women; 94%). However, some of the activities were not performed by support persons or the women were not satisfied with their performance. A high level of satisfaction was found in physical, psychological, emotional and informational support (from p = 0.00468 to p < 0.00001).

Conclusions: The respondents expressed a high level of satisfaction with the activities of the support person. However, the results indicate that the presence of the support persons themselves, mostly a partner, during birth is more important for women than the activities provided by them.

Keywords: Birth; Personal satisfaction; Social support

Received: September 11, 2018; Accepted: June 6, 2019; Prepublished online: July 3, 2019; Published: September 18, 2019  Show citation