title: A comparative study of expectant parents ' childbirth expectations.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand childbirth expectations and differences in childbirth expectations among expectant parents. For convenience sampling, 200 couples willing to participate in this study were chosen from two hospitals in central Taiwan. Inclusion criteria were at least 36 weeks of gestation, aged 18 and above, no prenatal complications, and willing to consent to participate in this study. Instruments used to collect data included basic demographic data and the Childbirth Expectations Questionnaire. Findings of the study revealed that (1) five factors were identified by expectant parents regarding childbirth expectations including the caregiving environment, expectation of labor pain, spousal support, control and participation, and medical and nursing support; (2) no general differences were identified in the childbirth expectations between expectant fathers and expectant mothers; and (3) expectant fathers with a higher socioeconomic status and who had received prenatal (childbirth) education had higher childbirth expectations, whereas mothers displayed no differences in demographic characteristics. The study results may help clinical healthcare providers better understand differences in expectations during labor and birth and childbirth expectations by expectant parents in order to improve the medical and nursing system and promote positive childbirth experiences and satisfaction for expectant parents.
authors.affiliation: National Taichung Nursing College, ROC.
authors.forename: Bi-Chin
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Meei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gau
authors.forename: Shian-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bih-Jaw
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Tsorng-Yeh
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012718:Set, Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan