Investigating different dimensions of women’s childbirth experiences and its predictors among postnatal women: findings from a cross sectional study

Childbirth experience is an event in a woman’s life with short- and long-term effects on her physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate different dimensions of women’s childbirth experiences and its predictors.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 430 postnatal women with vaginal delivery in 2021 in Northern Iran. Data were collected using the Iranian women’s childbirth experience questionnaire (IWCEQ) and demographic and pregnancy-related characteristics questionnaire. Principal component analysis using Amos 24 and backward multiple linear regression using SPSS 22 were employed to analyze the data.

The mean score of childbirth experiences was 48.48 ± 19.09% out of 100 (95% CI: 46.68–50.28). The Principal Component Analysis revealed that the preparation (β = 0.84), positive perception (β = 0.78), and fear dimensions (β= -0.72) were the most important dimensions of women’s childbirth experiences. Moreover, education (B = -7.14, p = 0.001), spouse’s education (B = 7.40, p = 0.001), history of previous childbirth (B = 4.88, p = 0.001), obstetric problems of previous childbirth (B = − 7.73, p = 0.038), mother’s preferred type of delivery (B = 9.34, p = 0.001), the simultaneous delivery of another baby in the delivery room (B = -3.39, p = 0.017), and birth weight (B = -5.79, p = 0.005) explained 40% of the variance of the childbirth experience score.

Childbirth experience is a unique experience that influenced by positive and negative issues. More studies to identify related factors to dimensions of childbirth experience may have some insights for developing national and local- level health policies and clinical protocols.