Women's levels of birth satisfaction in the Greek Cypriot context

Women's satisfaction with their childbirth experiences is an important outcome for perinatal healthcare systems. Low satisfaction levels have been associated with both short-term and long-term implications for the mother, the baby and the family unit. This is the first study conducted in Cyprus measuring women's birth satisfaction levels through BSS-R.

To examine birth satisfaction among new mothers in Cyprus using the BSS-R and to investigate potential associations between birth satisfaction, socioeconomic factors, and obstetric parameters, including mode of birth, complications, presence of a birth partner, and the perception of labour as traumatic.

The data presented in this article are part of data collected for the INTERSECT study (ResearchRegistry.com Identifier: 6439), an international, cross-sectional survey of postpartum PTSD, depression, trauma exposure, birth satisfaction, as well as demographic and obstetric details. The study population was 238 women who had given birth in Cyprus a maximum of two years prior to their participation in the study. Data collection was conducted between September 2022 and May 2023.

Significant associations were found between birth satisfaction and socioeconomic and obstetric factors. Older women and those with previous childbirth experience reported higher satisfaction levels. Differences in birth satisfaction were found between women experiencing an emergency CS and those having a vaginal birth. Statistically significant differences in birth satisfaction were also found between women who had no complications and those who had experienced complications during their labour. Women who had a partner present during labour were more satisfied than those who had no one. The findings of both the quantitative and the qualitative data suggest a number of actions that can be developed and implemented to increase women's birth satisfaction levels in the Greek Cypriot context.

Women's birth satisfaction levels in Cyprus can be enhanced through targeted interventions including the development of national guidelines for the provision of quality care, re-design of antenatal education and training of healthcare professionals. The validation of BSS-R in the context under investigation could facilitate the systematic assessment of birth satisfaction, a practice currently missing from the local healthcare system.