Effects of a close female relative support during labour and delivery on duration of active labour, incidence of spontaneous delivery, and satisfaction with childbirth experience

Abstract

When women give births in hospital which does not allow any family member to be present during labour, they may experience emotional loneliness and deal with pain and unfamiliar and stressful environment. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of an intervention of support by a close female relative during labour and delivery with the routine care on the duration of active labour, incidence of spontaneous delivery, and satisfaction with childbirth experience. The Convoy Model of Social Support was used as the conceptual framework for the study. A posttest-only control group design was conducted in a 782-bed regional teaching hospital in the eastern part of Thailand. One hundred primiparous women who were at 36 or more weeks' gestation and who had uncomplicated pregnancies were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 48) or a control group (n = 52). The experimental group received support from a close female relative of her choice from admission to hospital until 2 hours after birth as well as a routine care while the control group received a routine care. Data were collected using demographic and obstetric data collection tools, the Labour Agentry Scale, close female relative's and health care provider's perspective questionnaires. Data were analyzed by chi-square, independent t-test, analysis of covariance, and content analysis. The findings found that the experimental group had significantly shorter duration of active labour and was more satisfied with their childbirth experience than the control group (p < .05 and p < .01, respectively). There was no difference between groups in the incidence of spontaneous vaginal delivery (p = .73). This study confirmed the effectiveness of support from close female relative during labour and delivery on duration of active labour and satisfaction with the childbirth experience. Qualitative data provided evidence regarding the acceptability of having close female relative support during labour and delivery. The close female relatives and health care providers perceived its benefit to women in labour and its feasibility to implement in hospital.