Abstract:

To investigate the relationship between multigravidas’ perceptions of traumatic childbirth (PTC) and their socio-demographic characteristics and the effect of their previous types of birth and experiences on PTC. This descriptive study was conducted in a state hospital in Northern Turkey. The universe of the study consisted of multigravidas. The sample of the study comprised 161 pregnant women determined with G power analysis. The data were collected using the “Pregnant Introductory Information Form” and “Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale”. The age, gestational week and the number of pregnancy of the participants were 28.27 ± 5.13, 30.45 ± 7.71 and 1.94 ± 1.07 respectively. The average PTC score was 70.57 ± 21.89. 1.9%, 28.6%i 39.1% and 23.6% of the pregnant women perceived their birth as “very low”, “low”, “moderate” and as “high” traumatic respectively. There was a negative correlation between the average PTC score and the gestational age, the number of pregnancies and the duration of the adverse events and positive correlation between the average PTC score and the number of hospital visits during pregnancy (p <0.05). Compared with those who had cesarean section and no intervention, PTC score was higher in those who had a previous vaginal delivery and interventions. The average PTC score of those planning to give vaginal delivery was higher than those planning cesarean birth (p <0.05). The women who had a chronic disease before pregnancy (p<0.05) and those who had a vaginal birth with only a midwife and were satisfied with her communication had lower PTC scores (p> 0.05). Six out of every 10 pregnant women perceived their delivery traumatic at a moderate / high level. PTC was higher in those having vaginal birth and an intervention previously and planning a vaginal birth again. The early identification of the risk of PTC before pregnancy or early pregnancy and taking precautions are recommended.

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