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Support and continuity during the first 2 weeks postpartum
Author(s) -
Barimani Mia,
Oxelmark Lena,
Johansson SvenErik,
Hylander Ingrid
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12144
Subject(s) - childbirth , social support , medicine , postpartum period , logistic regression , pregnancy , nursing , cross sectional study , emotional support , family medicine , obstetrics , psychology , social psychology , genetics , pathology , biology
Objectives To investigate mothers’ perceived satisfaction with support from antenatal care ( AC ), postpartum care ( PC ) and child health care ( CHC ), respectively, during the first two weeks after childbirth. Design Cross‐sectional survey, mixed‐method design. Ethical issues The study was approved by the Regional R esearch and E thics C ommittee at the K arolinska I nsititutet, S weden. Methods Data were collected using a study‐specific questionnaire that focused on mothers’ satisfaction with support from AC , PC and CHC during the first 2 weeks after childbirth. All mothers in S tockholm C ounty (n = 546) who gave birth to a live infant during a 1‐week period in 2009 were invited to participate. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses and a content analysis were performed. Results A large discrepancy was found between levels of satisfaction with AC , PC and CHC . Mothers were satisfied with the support from CHC healthcare nurses, but missed follow‐up contact from AC and PC midwives. Nearly 40% of all mothers commented on insufficient support including that continuity in the chain of care was lacking and support for mothers’ physical and emotional health was insufficient. Delivery at <37 weeks of gestation was associated with reduced satisfaction with both AC and CHC , but not with PC . Mothers who made emergency visits during the first two weeks were more likely to be dissatisfied with support from PC . Conclusion All links in the chain of care are important for the support of mothers during the first 2 weeks after childbirth, but continuity needs to be improved to raise the quality of care for mothers.