Effect of Respectful Maternity Care and Effective Communication during labor on childbirth satisfaction: an interventional study

Background: The recommended respectful maternity care (RMC) developed by WHO and effective communication (EC) between mothers and health staff have a direct positive effect on womens childbirth experience and satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the effect of RMC and EC on mothers' satisfaction with childbirth by considering womens demographics and obstetric characteristics. Methods: The study used an interventional design and was conducted at the Shahid Doctor Khalid Teaching Hospital in Koya/Iraq. One hundred women (50 control, 50 intervention) were recruited for this study. Fifty labouring women were randomly selected and enrolled for WHO standard RMC and EC. The control group intervened only in routine hospital care. Sociodemographic, obstetric and childbirth satisfaction data were collected during all stages of labor. The 30-item Birth Satisfaction Scale (BSS) was used to measure childbirth satisfaction. The Mean of BSS was found for intervention and control groups according to sociodemographic and obstetric factors. Results: The Mean of BSS was significantly higher in the intervention group (103.109.93) compared to the control group (86.5410.04) (p. value was 0.001). The mean of BSS was significantly low in the younger age group, primipara, episiotomy, long hospitalization, delayed cervical dilatation, and longer duration of labour. Conclusions: This study found that RMC and EC are highly efficient in improving satisfaction. In the intervention group, low-level education, low perceived economic status, long hospitalization, longer cervical dilation, and the first stage of labor do not significantly affect childbirth satisfaction. Primipara and episiotomy were the main fundamental causes for low childbirth satisfaction in both groups