Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Prevalence of negative birth experience: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Marzieh Bagherinia1, Arezoo Haseli2,3, Elham Bagherinia4
1Reproductive Health, Clinical Research Development Center, Motazedi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Introduction:
The overall experience women gain from the childbirth process is a significant outcome that is highly complex, subjective, and based on personal judgment. Cultural, social, and environmental contexts and societal policies can also influence it. The present systematic study and meta-analysis aim to conduct a comprehensive review to estimate the prevalence of negative childbirth experiences.
Methods:
Published observational studies were reviewed without any time restrictions to conduct this systematic review. Relevant material was searched thoroughly in the PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases. Two authors independently evaluated the studies' quality using a modified Joanna Briggs checklists (JBI) version. Cochran's Q and I² tests were used to assess the heterogeneity of the studies. R software was used for the meta-analysis.
Results:
The study was based on a review of 19 observational studies published between 2001 and 2024 that examined the prevalence of negative childbirth experiences. The total sample size of the included studies was 73,353 women. Meta-analytic pooling of the prevalence of negative childbirth was 16% (95% CI: 10-22%). The evaluation of publication bias suggested a very strong likelihood of a small study effect due to the meta-analysis.
Conclusions:
Based on our study, the overall prevalence of negative childbirth experiences was calculated to be 16%. However, considering the short-term and long-term effects of this experience on various aspects of women's lives, greater attention should be paid to making pregnancy and childbirth more pleasant and to interventions to improve women's childbirth experiences.
More Related Videos
14:43A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
11:50Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Regression Toward the Mean
Bullying
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...