Respect to Women’s Autonomy in Childbirth: A Qualitative Study

Background Respect to women’s autonomy in vaginal child birth is a key factor of maternity care. Engaging women in decision-making in vaginal delivery helps women have a positive experience of delivery. Objectives In this content analysis of qualitative study we explored experiences of mothers and midwives in women’s role in normal vaginal childbirth. Methods This study was conducted in 2013 - 2014 in Iran. Overall 23 women and midwives were evaluated in this study. Data collected from 12 women and 11 midwives via in-depth semi structured interviews. Participants were selected from governmental and private hospitals in Mashhad and Kerman, Iran. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis with MAXqda software (version, 2007). Results Mothers’ and midwives’ experiences about women’s role in vaginal childbirth could be organized and categorized in one theme, referred to “Empowerment of women in vaginal childbirth”. This theme consists of two subthemes: “attempts to exhibit self-assertion” and “quest for information” and four categories of compromise with the labor process, cooperation with midwife, finding delivery sources during pregnancy and seeking delivery information in labor. Conclusions Attention to women active role in vaginal child birth could improve women experience of vaginal delivery.