Satisfaction with perinatal care providers and the childbirth experience: the moderating role of body mass index

Satisfaction with birth and healthcare provider experiences have long-term effects for maternal health. Research has shown that mothers who report more trust, respect, and self-efficacy in their relationship with their healthcare providers are more likely to report positive birthing experiences. Further, individuals with obesity, including pregnant mothers, are more likely to experience weight-related stigma from healthcare providers which may negatively impact satisfaction with this relationship. Thus, the current study examines maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) as a moderator between birth and provider satisfaction.

A sample of 94 women (ages 16–38) were recruited during pregnancy. Participants completed surveys about their satisfaction with their birth experience, provider satisfaction, height, weight, and demographics including age and education. A moderation analysis was used to examine pre-pregnancy BMI as a moderator between birth and provider satisfaction.

Results show that provider satisfaction is positively associated with birth satisfaction among mothers with moderate (overweight) to high (obese) pre-pregnancy BMI scores in our sample.

Findings suggest that strengthening the patient-provider relationship may promote satisfaction with birth experiences.