Childirth readiness and its related factors and consequences in pregnant women referring to health centers in tabriz and providing strategies to promote childbirth readiness: a sequential explanatory mixed medthod study

Abstract

AbstractBackground: Childbirth is a remarkable yet demanding journey that transitions apregnant woman into motherhood, involving physical, psychological, emotional,social, and cultural dimensions. It is crucial for pregnant women to be thoroughlyprepared for the multifaceted nature of this experience to effectively navigate itschallenges.Consequently, this study aimed to: a) assess the readiness status forchildbirth, its influencing factors, and outcomes, b) explore the perspectives ofpregnant and postpartum women on readiness for childbirth, and c) developstrategies to enhance childbirth preparedness.Methods: The study adopted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach. Inthe quantitative phase, a longitudinal descriptive-analytical design was employed.The sampling method was cluster-based within health centers in Tabriz city, where063 pregnant women at 03 weeks of gestation and beyond were randomly andproportionally selected according to health center data. After explaining the studyobjectives and obtaining written informed consent, participants completedindividual socio-demographic and obstetric questionnaires, the childbirth readinessscale (CRS), a checklist for attending childbirth preparation classes, the pregnancyexperience scale (PES), and the Wijma delivery expectancy/experiencequestionnaire (W-DEQ) version A. Participants were followed up four to six weekspostpartum and completed the childbirth experience questionnaire 0.3 (CEQ0.3),the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale, the postpartum specific anxiety scaleresearch short form (PSAS-RSF), and questionnaires on childbirth consequences,exclusive breastfeeding, and desire for subsequent pregnancies. In the analysisphase, the psychometric validation of the CRS tool was initially conducted. Amultiple linear regression model was utilized to assess the relationship betweenchildbirth readiness and participation in childbirth preparation classes, fear ofchildbirth, pregnancy experience, childbirth experience, and postpartum anxiety.To explore the association between childbirth readiness and postpartum depression