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The Canadian maternity experiences survey: design and methods
Susie Dzakpasu1, Janusz Kaczorowski2, Beverley Chalmers3
1Health Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa ON.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal D'Obstetrique Et Gynecologie Du Canada : JOGC
|March 28, 2008
Summary
The Maternity Experiences Survey (MES) provides valuable Canadian data on women's pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. This national survey offers high-quality insights into maternity care across Canada.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Public Health Surveillance
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- The Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System (CPSS) initiated the Maternity Experiences Survey (MES).
- Limited representative data existed on women's maternity care experiences in Canada.
- Understanding diverse maternal experiences is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a representative, pan-Canadian dataset on women's experiences during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
- To gather detailed information on maternity care from the perspective of mothers.
- To inform policy and practice related to maternal and infant health.
Main Methods:
- Survey development involved multidisciplinary input, consultations, and pilot studies.
- A sample of 6,421 mothers who gave birth in Canada was interviewed 5-14 months postpartum.
- Data collection utilized telephone interviews conducted by professional Statistics Canada interviewers.
Main Results:
- A high response rate of 78% was achieved, representing an estimated 76,508 women.
- The survey sample was deemed representative of the Canadian population for all investigated characteristics.
- Low item non-response and data errors indicate high data quality.
Conclusions:
- The MES represents a significant advancement in understanding maternity experiences in Canada.
- High-quality, national, provincial, and territorial data are now available on a broad range of maternity experiences.
- This data will support evidence-based improvements in maternal healthcare services.
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