Does Institutional Maternity Services Contribute to the Fear of Childbirth? A Focus Group Interview Study
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Date
2021
Authors
Onchonga, David
Keraka, Margaret
MoghaddamHosseini, Vahideh
´ Varnagy ´, Akos
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier B.V
Abstract
Background: The quality of institutional maternity services offered significantly determine the health outcomes of
pregnant women and their infants.
Objectives: The study aimed at understanding perceptions and experiences of new mothers diagnosed with the
fear of childbirth in Kenya; regarding the institutional maternity services offered and if they contribute to the fear
of childbirth (FOC).
Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study. A total of 29 women who had given birth recently in a maternity institution, and had been screened with the fear of childbirth at 32 weeks’ gestation period participated in
focus group interviews. The Framework for Assessing the Quality of Care of institutional maternity services
(FAQC) developed by the University of Southampton was adopted in this study. Thematic analyses were used.
Results: It was reported that institutional maternity services contributed directly and indirectly to FOC. The direct
contribution included the performance of unintended caesarian sections, severe and prolonged labour pains and
negative attitude of healthcare providers. The indirect contribution was in form of challenges in the provision of
care and the experience of care in the maternity institutions. In the provision of care; human and physical resources, inadequate referral systems, and inadequate management of emergencies were reported. In the experience of care; lack of cognition, respect, dignity, equity and inadequacies in emotional support were reported.
Conclusion: The study identified systemic challenges related to both the provision and the experience of care.
Therefore, there is need to astutely analyze all critical steps identified in the FAQC, as this will greatly improve
the uptake of institutional maternity services.
Description
article
Keywords
Prenatal, Fear of childbirth, Institutional maternity services, Focus group interviews, Kenya
Citation
Onchonga, D., Keraka, M., MoghaddamHosseini, V., & Varnagy, A. (2021). Does institutional maternity services contribute to the fear of childbirth? A focus group interview study. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 30, 100669.