Women's attitudes towards psychosocial support in labour in United Arab Emirates

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine women's attitudes and preferences regarding psychosocial support during childbirth in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A consecutive sample of 400 mothers with singleton normal pregnancies delivered vaginally during 2 months was interviewed postpartum about their experience and satisfaction with supportive care during labour using structured questionnaire. Results: Birth attendant continuously accompanied 237 (59.3%) participants including mother (59.5%), sister (31.2%), friend (7.2%), other family member (1.3%) or husband (0.8%). Preference in the no-companion group (n=163, 40.7%) was health professional (56.4%), mother (25.8%), sister (16.6%) or husband (1.2%). Labour was significantly shorter (P<0.0001) with less need for analgesia (P<0.0001), oxytocin augmentation (P<0.0001) and neonatal intensive care (P=0.03) in the companion group. Rates of instrumental delivery, episiotomy and perineal tear were similar in both groups. Three hundred and fifty (87.5%) subjects felt that psychosocial support during childbirth is essential and best provided by non-professional attendant (companion group) or midwife/obstetrician (no-companion group). 59.3% and 19.7% of mothers, respectively, reported less satisfaction and negative feelings about their perinatal experience that was more frequent in the no-companion group (P=0.001, P<0.0001; respectively). Conclusion: Perceptions, experiences and outcomes of companion support during childbirth in UAE, although relatively less available, are therefore not different from those described elsewhere.