Title:Strategies for Promoting Positive Childbirth Experiences: Delphi
Approach
Volume: 20
Issue: 6
Author(s): Zohreh Shahhosseini, Zahra Motaghi, Afsaneh Keramat, Sakineh Kolahdozan, Leila Hosseini Tabaghdehi, Mahmood Moosazadeh and Monirolsadate Hosseini Tabaghdehi*
Affiliation:
- Department of
Midwifery, Health Reproductive Research Center, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
Keywords:
Childbirth, experience, positive, delphi, strategy, birth.
Abstract:
Background: The experiences that women gain during childbirth remain with them
throughout life. This study aimed to provide strategies to promote positive childbirth experiences.
Method: This Delphi study was conducted in three rounds from September to November 2019. A
purposively selected 17 national experts, including obstetricians, reproductive health professionals,
and midwives, participated in this study.
Results: Most of the 52 initial strategies in the first round (50 strategies) were approved with a
few corrections in the first and second rounds, and 23 strategies were presented in the third-round
questionnaire; most panelists agreed upon them. Finally, they approved 73 strategies with five categories:
promoting professional support, enhancing control skills, encouraging empowerment, promoting
spouse and other important support, and improving childbirth preparation.
Conclusion: The Delphi approach allows for developing a consensus that will serve as a template
for education, practice, and future research in maternity care units. Hence, multidimensional approaches
are required to promote positive childbirth experiences that can potentially improve
mothers’ well-being outcomes.