Women's perceptions of medicalised pregnancy and childbirth: an exploratory sequential mixed-method protocol study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Medical Sociology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth is a significant aspect of women's healthcare experiences.
• Existing instruments may not fully capture the nuances of women's perceptions regarding medical interventions during pregnancy and childbirth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a psychometric instrument to measure women's perceptions of pregnancy and childbirth medicalization.
• To provide a reliable tool for assessing women's views on the medical aspects of maternity care.

Main Methods:

• A sequential exploratory mixed-method protocol study in three phases.
• Phase 1: Hybrid conceptual model development (literature review and qualitative study).
• Phase 2: Instrument item and dimension development.
• Phase 3: Psychometric evaluation including face, content, and construct validity.
• Study conducted in educational and health centers in Tabriz, Iran.

Main Results:

• The study successfully developed an instrument to measure perceptions of medicalization in pregnancy and childbirth.
• The instrument underwent rigorous psychometric evaluation to ensure validity and reliability.

Conclusions:

• The developed instrument is a valid and reliable tool for assessing women's perceptions of pregnancy and childbirth medicalization.
• This tool can aid researchers and healthcare providers in understanding and addressing women's experiences with medicalized maternity care.