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Maternal perception of husband support during childbirth in Oman: A qualitative descriptive study
Khalsa Al Aufi1, Aziza Al Sawafi2, Iman Al Hashmi2
1Higher Institution of Health Specialties, P.O. Box 300, PC 116 Mina Al Fahal, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Background:
Globally, husband involvement during childbirth has increasingly been recognized as beneficial for maternal emotional well-being and childbirth experiences. However, in many Arab societies, childbirth remains culturally constructed as a predominantly female domain, with limited male participation. In Oman, little is known about how women perceive husband support during labour and delivery within the context of local cultural and religious norms. Understanding these perspectives is important for informing culturally responsive and family-centered maternity care. This study aimed to explore Omani women's perceptions of husband support during childbirth.
Methods:
A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 married Omani women who had previous childbirth experience. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis following Graneheim and Lundman (2004).
Results:
Four themes were identified: (1) woman-defined supportive presence, (2) culturally embedded multifaceted support, (3) intersecting personal, cultural, and institutional constraints, and (4) transformative relational and emotional impacts. Most women valued husband involvement for emotional reassurance, comfort, and support. However, many also expressed an ambivalent desire, in which appreciation for husband involvement coexisted with concerns related to privacy, modesty, and religious understandings of Awrah. Husband support extended beyond physical presence to include emotional, physical, informational, spiritual, and advocacy roles. Women also described how cultural expectations and institutional restrictions influenced their preferences and experiences.
Conclusion:
Husband support during childbirth in Oman is a woman-defined and culturally negotiated experience rather than a universally desired intervention. While women generally valued their husbands' emotional, practical, spiritual, and advocacy support, their preferences were shaped by concerns related to privacy, modesty, and religious understandings of Awrah. These findings highlight the need for flexible, culturally sensitive, and woman-centered maternity care approaches that respect women's choices regarding husband involvement during labour and birth.
