Analysis of satisfaction and opinions regarding perinatal care among residents of Poland and the United Kingdom

<ns3:p>Background: Childbirth is one of the most significant experiences in a woman's life, which can affect her physical and emotional health, newborn care, and future reproductive health decisions. Analyzing the satisfaction of women and comparing maternity care across different countries can help assess the quality of care received, as well as identify strengths and weaknesses in the care provided. Aim of the study: The study aimed to compare the satisfaction with perinatal care among women from Poland and the United Kingdom. The study also explored the respondents' opinions on midwife-led pregnancy care and any potential concerns related to it.Material and methods: The study included 100 women from each country who had given birth in the year preceding the research. The research tool was the author’s questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the STATISTICA 13.3 software.Results: The study showed that in Poland, perinatal care was predominantly provided privately by doctors, whereas in the UK, pregnancies were mainly managed by midwives through public healthcare. A significant difference was observed in the number of ultrasound scans performed during pregnancy (9.54 in Poland vs. 4.23 in the UK). Additionally women in the UK worked longer during pregnancy than those in Poland. British women rated prenatal care higher, while satisfaction with childbirth and postnatal care was similar in both groups. More women in the UK experienced continuity of perinatal care and gave better ratings for breastfeeding support. The majority of Polish respondents were not aware which pregnancies could be managed by a midwife in Poland and had concerns about having their pregnancy overseen by one. Conclusions: Although perinatal care in the UK is primarily provided through public funds by midwives, it is rated better in several aspects than in Poland. Most Polish women are not yet ready to take advantage of the option to have their pregnancy managed by a midwife.</ns3:p>