Abstract:

Purpose: This study was done to determine the perceptions of birth by students studying in the nursing department. Tools and Methods: Qualification type research was carried out with 37 students studying in the nursing department of an university located in a province in the West Black Sea Region. The data is collected using a personal information form and a semi-configured conversation form. The data is evaluated by content analysis. Results: The average age of students is 20.56 ± 1.55; 43.2% of them have received a female-born lesson and 35.1% have observed a childbirth during the course of education. The content analysis results in two themes related to birth perception, five sub themes and 24 codes related to these sub themes. The first theme is a birth view, and under this theme are defined three sub-themes as positive, negative and spiritual views. The second theme is the preference of birth, and under this theme there are two sub-themes that determine the preferred form and preference of birth. With a positive look at birth, it is determined that most students consider birth as an exciting and happy condition. From a spiritual point of view, it is found that they see birth as the beginning of a new life. Students expressed their negative views on birth in the most painful form. The opinion that students prefer the most normal birth, the most expressed opinion that determines the preference for birth, is related to physical well-being. The result is that nursing students have a positive perception of birth, prefer normal birth, and the physical, psychosocial and spiritual well-being is important in determining their preference for birth.

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