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"Being there is not enough": Expectations and needs for partner support during childbirth among primiparous couples:
Yuanyuan Tian1, Zewen Wang1, Bakht Alam1
1School of Nursing, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221004, China.
Background:
The World Health Organisation advocates providing partner support during childbirth. However, the presence of a partner alone does not guarantee effective support. Primiparous women and their partners often experience uncertainty due to incomplete information and a lack of preparation for the role of a supporter.
Aim:
Based on the "Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills" (IMB) model, this study explores the expectations and needs of primiparous couples regarding partner support during childbirth.
Methods:
This qualitative descriptive study employs semi-structured interviews and deductive thematic analysis, assisted by NVivo 20. The study was conducted at the prenatal outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province, and 15 primiparous couples were purposively selected.
Findings:
Three themes were identified within the IMB framework: (1) Needing clear, timely, and reliable information; (2) Wanting to be present but lacking emotional readiness; (3) Wanting to help but lacking practical skills to provide support. Couples usually want a practical and hospital-approved method to prepare for childbirth, especially in the weeks close to birth.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that adopting a comprehensive, couple-centred approach addressing informational needs, emotional readiness, and perceived behavioural skills may help improve partners' readiness to engage in childbirth support.
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