A cross-sectional study of low birth satisfaction during the COVID-19 epidemics' fifth wave

Abstract

Aim: To investigate predictors of low birth satisfaction in a sample of Iranian postpartum women during the COVID-19 epidemics' fifth wave.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: This study was conducted on 676 postpartum women admitted to postpartum wards of Mobini maternity hospital using a convenience sampling method between 2 Aug and 18 September 2021 in Iran. We used the general linear model and multiple linear regression analyses to determine predictors of birth satisfaction.

Results: The mean and standard deviation values of age and education were 28.7 ± 6.6 and 11.1 ± 4.1 (years), respectively. The mean scores of the three scales were as follows: FVC-19S (14.7 ± 7.5), WHO-5 (67.5 ± 13.0) and BSS-R (28.6 ± 7.3). Sixty-five point nine percent (65.9%) of the participants were multiparous. Overall predictors of low birth satisfaction were emergency caesarean, instrumental birth, episiotomy, Entonox analgesia, low level of well-being score < 50, fear of COVID-19, low satisfaction with pregnancy and low satisfaction with spouse's support. The overall proportion of the variance in birth satisfaction explained by all variables is 17.4%. Labor and birth variables explained 12.2% of the variance in birth satisfaction.

Patient or public contribution: None.

Keywords: COVID‐19; caesarean section; childbirth; midwifery; nursing; patient satisfaction; postpartum period.