Risk factors for a negative birth experience using the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health Research
• Psychosocial Aspects of Childbirth

Background:

• Negative birth experiences can significantly impact maternal mental health and well-being.
• Understanding risk factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions to improve childbirth experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key risk factors associated with negative birth experiences.
• To utilize the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) questionnaire for assessing birth satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1495 women who gave birth between February 2021 and January 2022.
• Birth satisfaction measured using the BSS-R questionnaire; negative experience defined as a score below the median.
• Multivariable regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for negative birth experiences.

Main Results:

• Parity, history of abortions, and smoking were associated with a lower risk of negative birth experience (aORs ranging from 0.52 to 0.78).
• Immigration status, in-person questionnaire completion, and cesarean delivery were associated with a higher risk of negative birth experience (aORs ranging from 1.37 to 1.92).

Conclusions:

• Factors such as parity, prior abortions, and smoking are protective against negative birth experiences.
• Cesarean delivery, immigration, and in-person data collection are risk factors for negative birth experiences, highlighting areas for potential support.