Mothers' Perceptions of the Birthing Environment on their Birth Satisfaction: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research is to investigate the effect that the birthing environment has on the level of birthing satisfaction experienced by 15 mothers in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. In the study, a purposive sampling approach was utilized to identify participants who had an assisted birth at a public sector institutional facility. To capture the experiences and perspectives of the participants on the birthing environment during labor, semi-structured phenomenological interviews were conducted with each of the participants. To discover recurring themes within the data, the thematic analysis method was utilized. According to the results of the study, the birthing environment appears to play a considerable part in determining the quality of the delivery experience and the level of mother’s satisfaction. It was found that access to basic amenities such as water and hygiene facilities, along with having a clean and pleasant setting, supportive staff, and privacy, were critical aspects that contributed to their level of satisfaction with their birthing experience. On the other side, there were a number of issues that were recognized as having a negative impact on the birthing experience. These included a lack of privacy, poor hygiene, and inadequate infrastructure. According to the findings of the study, improving the birthing environment may have a beneficial effect on the overall positive experience of birthing mothers.