The effect of perceived support from health employee on birth satisfaction

This study was carried out analytically-cross sectionally in Söke Fehime Faik Kocagöz State Hospital Obstetrics Service (Aydın Provincial Directorate of Health), between May 18, 2019 and May 31, 2020, in order to determine the effect of the perceived support from healthcare professional by mothers giving vaginal birth on their birth satisfaction. The population of the study consisted of the mothers giving vaginal birth in Söke Fehime Faik Kocagöz State Hospital. The sample of the study consisted of 286 mothers who meet the criteria for the inclusion of the research and were determined by convenience sampling method. The Research Data was collected within 24 hours after the birth through the Personal Information Form and the Form of the Scale of Women's Perception on Supportive Care given at Birth and Birth Satisfaction Scale. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage), Mann-Whitney U and correlation analysis were used in the assessment of the data. It was determined that the median age is 26.5±5.6, 36.0% (most) of the education background is primary school, 86.0% of current pregnancies was on-demand, 47.7% of the mothers were accompanied by a midwife during their last birth, 86.4% of the mothers prefers vaginal birth in their next. The total point averages of the Scale of Women's Perception on Supportive Care Given at Birth is 87.0 (range 64.0-105.0), its sub scales point averages is 50.0 (range 15.0-60.0) for relaxing treats, 17.0 (range 10.0-27.0) for education, 19.0 (range 13.0-39.0) for disturbing treats, and it is determined that the mothers who got supportive birth care from the healthcare professional, have higher perception on supportive birth care. The point averages of the Birth Satisfaction Scale is 26.8±6.3, its sub scales point averages is 15.0 (range 0.0-15.0) for the quality of care, 3.8±2.3 for the characteristics of the women, 9.0±3.3 for experiencing stress at birth, and it is found out that 48.6% (139) of the mothers have high birth satisfaction. It is also determined that the higher the points of the Scale of Women's Perception on Supportive Care given at Birth is, the higher is the points of the Birth Satisfaction Scale, and the mothers who have higher birth satisfaction level have also higher point averages of the Scale of Women's Perception on Supportive Care given at Birth than the mothers who have low or medium birth satisfaction level. As a result, when the perception of a woman on supportive care given by the healthcare staff during vaginal birth is positively affected, the level of birth satisfaction is also positively affected. It may be recommended that healthcare professionals be informed about maternity services and solution suggestions and give importance to these issues in educational services. Keywords: Childbirth, supportive care, midwifery, satisfaction.