How to Improve Adolescent Mothers' Satisfaction with Childbirth?

This study aimed to analyze factors related to adolescent mothers' satisfaction with childbirth.

Prospective and cross-sectional study PARTICIPANTS: Fifty adolescent mothers with maternal age from 14 to 19 years and delivery of a single and live newborn at term SETTING: Low-risk maternity hospital INTERVENTION: The participants were invited to answer a questionnaire (North Bristol modified version of the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale [mMCSRS]) with 18 items measuring childbirth satisfaction. Each item was to be rated on a 5-point Likert scale (very dissatisfied to very satisfied).

The main outcome measure was the total score on the questionnaire.

The median maternal age was 18 years (95% CI, 11-25), and the median maternal satisfaction score of adolescent mothers was 88 (95% CI, 83-90). There was a significant difference in the total scores on the mMCSRS regarding the following factors: "oral fluid and food intake during labor" (yes = 84.0 vs no = 78.0, P = 0.044); "professional who attended the birth" (physician = 78.0 vs midwife = 86.0, P = 0.022); "skin-to-skin contact" (yes = 83.0 vs no = 71.0, P = 0.004); and "breastfeeding at the first hour" (yes = 84.5 vs no = 75.5, P = 0.008). Multiple regression with a stepwise procedure identified the following independent factors: "gestational age" (coefficient = 2.14, P = 0.03), "oral fluid and food intake during labor" (coefficient = 5.30, P = 0.013), and "skin-to-skin contact" (coefficient = 11.2, P < 0.001).

Satisfaction with childbirth in adolescent mothers is associated with measures that can be easily implemented in the health care system. They are chiefly the provision of oral fluid and food during labor and skin-to-skin contact. Specific strategies are thus needed to increase adolescents' satisfaction with childbirth.