The Childbirth Experiences and Related Factors: A Cross-SectionalSurvey of Iranian Primiparous Women

Introduction: Childbirth is considered one of the most important experiences in a woman's life. This study aimed to explore the childbirth experience and its related factors among primiparous women. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 primiparous women who visited comprehensive health centers for postpartum care in Hamadan, Iran. Inclusion criteria included: single, full-term pregnancy, primiparity, vaginal delivery within the past month, no medical or obstetric complications, and no history of mental health problems and depression. Samples were selected using cluster sampling. After obtaining informed consent, participants completed the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and a demographic and obstetric information questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Stata-13 software. Significance level was p <0.05. Results: The highest mean scores of the CEQ were related to: “My midwife understood my needs” in the “professional support” domain. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that women who did not intend to have a natural birth had a childbirth experience score 2.85 points lower (95% CI: -4.42, -1.28; p <0.001) than those who intended to have a vaginal birth. Additionally, women who did not participate in childbirth preparation classes had a score 2.95 points lower (95% CI: - 4.75, -1.14; p = 0.001) than others. Discussion: This study aimed to explore the childbirth experiences of primiparous women and identify the socioeconomic and midwifery factors associated with these experiences. In the present study, the dimension of professional support received the highest score among the various aspects of childbirth experience. This finding highlights the critical role of professional support in shaping childbirth experiences, a result consistent with other studies in the field. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that professional support during childbirth is crucial for positive childbirth experiences. Furthermore, the intention for natural childbirth and participation in childbirth preparation classes were strongly linked to more positive childbirth experiences.