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. 2023 Aug;27(8):1352-1360.
doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03677-6. Epub 2023 May 25.

The Effects of Accompaniment on Maternal Anxiety During Elective Cesarean Delivery: A Quasi-experimental Study

Noemí Obregón Gutiérrez  1   2 , Jesus Cobo  3   4 , Salut Puig Calsina  1 , Yolanda Canet Esteve  1 , Joan Carles Oliva  5 , Josefina Goberna Tricas  2
Affiliations
Free article

The Effects of Accompaniment on Maternal Anxiety During Elective Cesarean Delivery: A Quasi-experimental Study

Noemí Obregón Gutiérrez et al. Matern Child Health J. 2023 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

Background: In Spain, allowing women to be accompanied by their partners during cesarean deliveries is a poorly consolidated practice. Going through this experience alone, not only deprives women from the opportunity of sharing the birth with their partners, but also, forces them to face, on their own, one of the most stressful experiences during pregnancy.

Objective: To analyze whether significant differences exist in levels of anxiety of women who receive an elective cesarean delivery, according to whether they are allowed to be accompanied by their partners.

Design: Quasi-experimental, longitudinal, prospective study, comparing a group of 31 women receiving elective cesarean deliveries, without the presence of their partners, with a group of 33 women with elective cesarean deliveries who were accompanied by their partners. Anxiety levels were assessed using the STAI-State/Trait scale. Participants were given a questionnaire to assess their level of satisfaction with the care received.

Results: Anxiety measured via total scores on the STAI-S scale was significantly lower (p < 0.004) among the women who were accompanied by their partners during the elective cesarean delivery (median = 25), compared to the group who were not (median = 50). The differences were also significant (p < 0.003) considering the impact of accompaniment upon the group with high scores in the STAI-S (> 31) and continue to be significant when using the cut-off point of very high scores on the STAI-S (> 45).

Conclusions: Presence of partners during elective cesareans is a key factor for decreasing the anxiety caused by the surgery and for improving the overall experience of cesarean deliveries.

Keywords: Birth experiences; Cesarean section/anxiety; Cesarean section/psychology; Fathers; Female; Patient satisfaction; STAI questionnaire.

Plain language summary

What is already known on this subject? Cesarean deliveries are one of the most stressful life experiences. Allowing women to be accompanied by their partners during cesarean deliveries is a poorly consolidated practice in some countries. Otherwise relevant international institutions recommend allowing an accompanying adult, present with the mother in the operating room during the entire process.What this study adds? Presence of partners during elective cesareans is a key factor for decreasing deliveries’ anxiety, improving the overall experience, but it needs a mentality change in the obstetric and surgical team. These results could change the services organization in a more humane delivery, with overall positive impact in the patients’ care.

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