Giving birth: the voices of Armenian women

Abstract

PURPOSE AND STUDY DESIGN: The purposes of this qualitative descriptive study were to describe the perceptions of Armenian childbearing women about the meaning of giving birth and to conduct an outcomes evaluation of the Erebuni Women's Wellness Center.

Method: Fifteen women who had given birth to healthy term infants during the past 8 months and who received health-care services at the Erebuni Medical Center, Yerevan, Armenia participated in audiotaped interviews. Questions were asked about the meaning of their childbirth experience and their satisfaction with their health care.

Results: Themes included the meaning of giving birth within the Armenian sociocultural context, enriching the family perspective across generations of Armenian families and receiving supportive quality health care.

Discussion and clinical implications: This research is an example of an international collaborative work conducted with the American International Health Alliance (AIHA) who established women's wellness centres in Eastern Europe in conjunction with United States Agency for International Development. Outcomes data is very important in order to ensure the quality of health care provided. Clinical personnel found evaluative data were helpful in improving services to women and newborns. Because of dramatic socioeconomic situation in Armenia and many changes that have happened in their health care over the past 18 years, it is important to document the outcomes of AIHA partnership programmes in improving the health of childbearing women and their families. Listening to the voices of Armenian childbearing women is essential to guide health-care initiatives.