Iranian women's birth experiences: a cross-sectional study

Women's childbirth experiences are an essential measure of childbirth and have a significant role in evaluating and improving the quality of care given during birth. This study's aim was to evaluate women's experiences during labour and childbirth in a teaching hospital in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a public hospital in Guilan from July to August 2018. The study recruited 126 low-risk postpartum women. The childbirth experience questionnaire and a researcher-developed questionnaire were used for data collection. Linear regression was used to assess the effect of factors on birth care experience (significance level: P<0.05). Results Women's experiences of childbirth were not optimal. Women's overall experience score was 2.56±0.42. The desire to have a normal birth (P<0.001), the freedom to drink, change position or walk during labour (P=0.01), receiving respectful care (P<0.001) and emotional support (P=0.009) were contributing factors to women's perceptions of their experiences. Quality improvement strategies are needed to implement evidence-based care in Iran. Interventions to ensure that healthcare professionals’ behaviour promotes women's psychological wellbeing and creates a respectful birth environment are required to promote high-quality childbirth care and improve birth experiences in Iran.