Expectations and Experiences of Primiparous Women Who Delivered at Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Delta State

Asiodu, Anthonia Ifeanyi1, Anieche, John Emenike2
1Federal Medical Center Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
2Department of Nursing Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2023.8607

Received: 22 May 2023; Revised: 02 June 2023; Accepted: 06 June 2023; Published: 04 July 2023

Abstract: This is a qualitative study that determined the expectations and experiences of primiparous women who deliver at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. A sample of 20 women participated in the study. Instrument for data collection was researchers’ structured interview matrix that was validated and tested for internal consistency. Data were collected through face to face in depth interview. Data collected for the study were coded based on similarities and differences in the responses of the women and results were presented in tables with frequencies and percentage distributions. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for the analysis using IBM SPSS-version 23. Findings from the study showed that majority of the primiparous women who delivered at FMC Asaba had expectations before childbirth such as clean and wellequipped hospital, qualified health personnel (90%), and supportive midwives. Their experiences during childbirth included having a clean environment with modernized equipment, qualified and supportive Midwives on ground to care for them etc. All the primiparous women (100%) disclosed that the hospital bill did not match their expectations as it was higher than expected for government health institution. The study revealed that there is no correlation between expectations and experiences of primiparous women as shown by a correlation coefficient of 0.397. Th e r e s e a r c h e r s recommended that there should be a birthing environment with the health care providers that are competent, compassionate and sneral wellbeing of a woman at childbirth.

Keywords: Expectations, Experiences, Primiparous women, Delivered.

I. Introduction

Birth is the most challenging physiological and psychological events in the women’s life (Taheri, et al, 2018). Childbirth is not only a transition to motherhood, but also it is associated with considerable physical and emotional impacts in a mother’s life (Bertucci, 2012). It has a powerful effect on women’s lives with long-term positive or negative effects (Boryri et al, 2016: Nilver et al, 2017). A positive birth experience can have long-lasting profits such as the improvement of the relationship between a mother and a child, the development of parents’ well- being, self-confidence, and the quality of life (Guittier, et al, 2014: Hildingsson et al, 2013). In contrast, a negative birth experience could affect their sense of motherhood and womanhood (Smarandache et al, 2016). It is associated with negative health outcomes, post-traumatic stress disorder, decrease in rates of exclusive breastfeeding, interruption to social relationships, dysfunction in mother-infant relationships, fear of childbirth, increased tendency for an elective caesarean section in future pregnancies. (Taheri et al, 2018; Guittier et al, 2014; Nilver et al., 2017; Smarandache et al, 2016).

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