title: Influence of obstetrical events on satisfaction and anxiety during childbirth: a prospective longitudinal study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the feelings of anxiety and satisfaction among 79 primiparas who had uncomplicated pregnancies, at the time of hospital admission and after birth, considering the mode of delivery, analgesia, and pain levels. Questionnaires were completed at admission to the hospital and two months after delivery, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) state scale and the Labour Agentry Scale. The mean (SD) STAI state score was higher at admission (36.7 (10.7)) than 4 months after childbirth (32.1 (9.7)) (paired Student's t-test, t = 2.93; df = 78; p = .004). However, the postnatal anxiety was not associated with the mode of delivery, epidural or pain. Regarding the satisfaction with the expectations of control during childbirth, the mean (SD) score was higher before childbirth (166.0 (21.8)) than after (157.5 (33.5)) (paired Student's t-test, t = -2.28; df = 77; p = .03). The satisfaction with the childbirth experience was significantly associated with the expectations of childbirth and the mode of delivery, but not with analgesia or pain. The postnatal anxiety was associated with physical health, pain and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score during the postpartum period. It is important to consider the temporality of perinatal anxiety in order to understand its causes. Our results indicate that the experience of childbirth was predicted in this sample by the antenatal expectations and delivery outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Nursing Directorate , Geneva University Hospitals , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0640-0780
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Floris
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Geneva University Hospitals , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Irion
authors.affiliation: c Quality of Care Unit , University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospitals , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Courvoisier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000523:psychology; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; obstetric labor; pain; parturition; postpartum period