The effect of supportive midwifery care given during labor on fear of childbirth and mothers' satisfaction

Object: This aim of study was to investigate the effect of supportive midwifery care during labor on the fear of childbirth and mothers' satisfaction. Material and Method: The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted of 80 nulliparous woman (40 trial-40 controls). The data were collected by using Introductory Information Form, The Scale of Women's Perception for Supportive Care Given During Labor, The Wijma Deliver Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire version B (W-DEQ-B), The Scale for Measuring Maternal Satisfaction in Normal Birth (SMMS-normal birth) and Visual Analog Skala (VAS). Results: No significant difference was found between trial and control groups in terms of descriptive variables (p>0,05). The total mean score of the Scale of Women's Perception for Supportive Care Given During Labor was found to be 131,23±1,10 in the trial group and 115,58±12,98 in the control group (p=0,00). The perception of supportive care of women in the trial group is quite high compared to the control group. The total mean score of the W-DEQ-B scale in the trial group was 54,48±18,88, while the total score average of the control group scale was 96,60±30,17. This difference is statistically significant (p=0,00). Mothers' satisfaction levels were found to be high in both groups (p>0,05). The total time from the admission of the pregnant women to the delivery room to the service is 8,35±2,88 hours in the trial group and 12,65±5,93 hours in the control group (p=0.00). Based on this finding, the supportive care given during labor reduced the length of stay in the delivery room. The VAS mean scores of both groups are low and similar to one another (p>0,05). There was a moderate negative relationship between supportive care during labor and fear of childbirth, and a high positive relationship between supportive care and patient satisfaction (p=0,00). Conclusion: This study concluded that the supportive midwifery care given during labor reduces the fear of childbirth and the duration of stay in the delivery room and positively affects patient satisfaction.