title: Predictors of a negative labour and birth experience based on a national survey of Canadian women.
abstract: A negative birth experience has been shown to have a significant impact on the well-being and future choices of mothers. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of, and identify the risk factors associated with a negative birth experience for women in Canada.
  
  
  
  The study was based on secondary data analysis of the Maternity Experiences Survey (MES), a Canadian population database administered to 6,421 Canadian women in 2006. The examined outcome - negative birth experience - was derived from mothers' self-report of overall labour and birth experience. Independent variables were maternal demographics, health characteristics, pregnancy-related characteristics, and birth characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictors of negative birth experience. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) and 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI) are reported.
  
  
  
  Negative birth experience was reported among 9.3 % of women. The main significant predictors of a negative birth experience included older age (AOR 2.29, 95 % CI, 1.03-5.07), violence experienced in the past two years (AOR, 1.62, 95 % CI, 1.21-2.18), poor self-perceived health (adjusted OR, 1.95, 95 % CI, 1.36-2.80), prenatal classes attended (adjusted OR, 1.36, 95 % CI, 1.06-1.76), unintended pregnancy (adjusted OR, 1.30, 95 % CI, 1.03-1.63), caesarean birth (AOR, 1.65, 95 % CI, 1.32-2.06), and neonate admission to intensive care (AOR, 1.40, 95 % CI, 1.08-1.82).
  
  
  
  Significant predictors of a negative labour and birth experience were identified through this study, a first in the Canadian context. These findings suggest future research directions and provide a basis for the design and evaluation of maternal health policy and prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smarandache
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada. kimthere@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Theresa H M
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bohr
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Birth; Canada; Labour; Maternity experiences survey