Do laboring women accompanied by their companion of choice during the first stage of labor? A case of parturient women in Arba Minch town public health facilities, Sothern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Having a companion during labor and childbirth has numerous effects on the childbirth process and its outcomes. However, it doesn’t get enough attention in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. The study intended to assess the status of the companionship of choice during the first stage of labor among parturient women at public health facilities in Arba Minch town, South Ethiopia Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The study was conducted from October 1 to November 30, 2019. Face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data from 418 study participants. The data were entered into Epi data version 4.4.3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done and a p-value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence level was used to declare statistical significance. Results: Only 237(58.2%, 95 % CI: 53%, 63%). of the respondents were accompanied by their companion of choice during the first stage of labor. Having complication during the recent pregnancy & labor (AOR= 2.57, 95%, CI: 1.42, 4.64), being primipara (AOR= 2.18, 95%CI: 1.31, 3.48), having antenatal care (AOR= 2.92, 95% CI: 1.31, 6.49), giving birth at health center (AOR= 2.76, 95%CI: 1.74, 4.37) and being aware about companionship during labor (AOR=3.06, 95%CI, 1.44, 6.47) were the independent predictors of labor companionship. Conclusions: An ample proportion of participants had not been accompanied by their companion of choice during the first stage of labor in this study area. Health facilities and health care professionals need to provide appropriate evidence about companionship during laboring and allow companions of every laboring woman during childbirth unless the risk of allowing overshadows its profits. Keywords: companionship, Arbaminch town, and labor.