Abstract
BackgroundA negative birth experience has been shown to have a significant impact on the well-being and future choices of mothers. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of, and identify the risk factors associated with a negative birth experience for women in Canada.MethodsThe study was based on secondary data analysis of the Maternity Experiences Survey (MES), a Canadian population database administered to 6,421 Canadian women in 2006. The examined outcome - negative birth experience – was derived from mothers’ self-report of overall labour and birth experience. Independent variables were maternal demographics, health characteristics, pregnancy-related characteristics, and birth characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictors of negative birth experience. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI) are reported.ResultsNegative birth experience was reported among 9.3 % of women. The main significant predictors of a negative birth experience included older age (AOR 2.29, 95 % CI, 1.03–5.07), violence experienced in the past two years (AOR, 1.62, 95 % CI, 1.21–2.18), poor self-perceived health (adjusted OR, 1.95, 95 % CI, 1.36–2.80), prenatal classes attended (adjusted OR, 1.36, 95 % CI, 1.06–1.76), unintended pregnancy (adjusted OR, 1.30, 95 % CI, 1.03–1.63), caesarean birth (AOR, 1.65, 95 % CI, 1.32–2.06), and neonate admission to intensive care (AOR, 1.40, 95 % CI, 1.08–1.82).ConclusionSignificant predictors of a negative labour and birth experience were identified through this study, a first in the Canadian context. These findings suggest future research directions and provide a basis for the design and evaluation of maternal health policy and prevention programs.
Highlights
A negative birth experience has been shown to have a significant impact on the well-being and future choices of mothers
Access to the Maternity Experiences Survey (MES) database was obtained through the Research Data Centre in Toronto, approved by Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada
9.3 % of the women surveyed who responded to this question rated their labour and birth experience as somewhat negative or very negative (n = 591)
Summary
A negative birth experience has been shown to have a significant impact on the well-being and future choices of mothers. In Canada, the proportion of women with caesarean births has increased from 18.7 % (in 1997) to 27.3 % (in 2013) [24] This may lead to decreased postnatal health and well-being [25], neonatal and maternal complications [26], and a negative birth experience [6, 19, 20]. It is a predictor of development of PTSD [27], which in turn can have significant repercussions for infant mental health. A review of literature by McCourt and colleagues have found that aside from clinical reasons, the increase in caesarean births were related to psychological factors, (such as poor care, perceived inequalities in care, fear about giving birth), cultural and social factors (such as auspicious birth dates, association with higher social and economic status), and the perception that caesarean births are a safer option [23]
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