Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2024, 15(4):2060-2068 | DOI: 10.15452/cejnm.2024.15.0025

Satisfaction with childbirth and level of autonomy of women during the childbirth

Barbora Ďuríčeková, Zuzana Škodová, Martina Bašková
Department of Midwifery, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava

Aim:  To determine the relationship between perceived satisfaction with childbirth and perceived autonomy in decision making during the childbirth process. Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods:  The study took place within the international INTERSECT project. Data were collected in four hospitals in Slovakia. The research group consisted of 437 female respondents (average age 30.5 ± 4.8). Birth Satisfaction was measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R). Level of autonomy in decision making during childbirth was measured by the Mothers’ Autonomy in Decision Making Scale (MADM). Results: Respondents who perceived a higher level of autonomy in decision making during childbirth perceived higher overall satisfaction with childbirth (p = 0.001, r = 0.416). Higher age of mothers was also associated with higher birth satisfaction (p = 0.004, r = 0.139). Almost 17% of respondents perceived their childbirth to be a traumatic event. Respondents described lower levels of satisfaction with childbirth (p = 0.001) and lower levels of autonomy in decision making during childbirth (p = 0.002) if they subjectively perceived their childbirth as traumatic. Significant associations for the BSS-R score were also demonstrated regarding parity (p = 0.001), mode of delivery (p = 0.001), and type of delivery (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The involvement of the mother in the decision-making process of her own birth is a fundamental aspect of healthcare during childbirth and overall satisfaction with the birth.

Keywords: autonomy, birth satisfaction, decision making during childbirth, subjective perception of childbirth, traumatic birth

Received: September 4, 2024; Revised: November 26, 2024; Accepted: November 27, 2024; Published: December 9, 2024  Show citation

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Ďuríčeková B, Škodová Z, Bašková M. Satisfaction with childbirth and level of autonomy of women during the childbirth. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2024;15(4):2060-2068. doi: 10.15452/cejnm.2024.15.0025.
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