Abstract
Background
Labor companionship is a human interactive process that provides social support during the childbirth process. Despite it being one component of respectful maternity care (RMC) that is used for quality assurance to achieve the sustainable goal of maternal and neonatal mortality reduction, there is limited evidence about the current status of birth companionship. The study was aimed to assess labor companion and its associated factors at Debremarkos town public health facilities.
Methods
An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. The study was conducted at Debremarkos town from February 1/2021 to March 30/2021. From the 559 sample size, 548 women participated in the study. A systematic random sampling technique was used. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questioner was used, data were entered and analyzed with Epi-data version 4.60 and SPSS version 25.0. Bivariable regression was done and variables with p-value </= 0.20 were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. Variables with p-value </= 0.05 were considered significantly associated with labor companionship. Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit was checked and all multi-collinearity of variables with variance inflation factors (VIF) up to 10 was tolerated.
Results
A total of 548 participants were involved in the study with a 98.03% response rate. The magnitude of labor companionship was found to be 14.6% (11.7–17.5). Women who had complicated pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=5.53; 95% CI: 3.09–9.92), women's desire for a labor companion (AOR=3.63; 95% CI: 1.51–8.69), being primipara (AOR=3.49; 95% CI: 1.93–6.35), labor followed by female skilled birth attendant (AOR=0.37;95% CI: 0.17–0.82), and women’s perceived busyness of skilled birth attendant (AOR=0.13;95% CI: 0.07–0.23) were significantly associated with labor companionship.
Conclusions
Labor companionship was found to be low. Giving emphasis on the desire, primipara, complicated pregnancy, sex of skilled birth attendant and women perceived busy skilled birth attendant were suggested for the improvement of labor companionship.
Abbreviations
AOR, Adjusted Odds Ratio; CI, Confidence Interval; COR, Crude Odd Ratio; EDHS, Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey; EMWA, Ethiopian Midwifery Association; LMIC, Low And Middle Income Countries; RMC, Respectful Maternity Care; SBA, Skilled Birth Attendant; SDG, Sustainable Development Goal; UoG, University of Gondar; WHO, World Health Organization.
Data Sharing Statement
The data set used and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on the reasonable request.
Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate
The study proposal was submitted to and approved by School of midwifery ethical review committee under the delegation of UOG institutional review committee. University of Gondar wrote Official letter to Debremarkos town health department and each selected health institutions. An institutional permission was obtained from Debremarkos town health department, Debremarkos referral hospital clinical director. Protective equipment like face mask was given for data collectors and supervisors. Participants were informed clearly about the purpose and benefit of the study and written and signed informed consent was obtained from them with data collectors who wear face mask and keep his/her distant. Those who signed written consent were only participate in the study and leave who were not volunteers to participate and consider as non-response. The confidentiality of responses was maintained throughout the research process by giving code for participant. Personal privacy and cultural norms was respected. All consent form was translated into and administered in Amharic. The author would like to confirm that this study was conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki.
Acknowledgments
First, I would like acknowledge University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences for the provision of ethical clearance. Likewise, I am indebted to study participants for their permission and cooperation to participate in this study. In the same way I would like to acknowledge data collectors and supervisors.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors have declared that they have no competing interests in this work.