A Study to Assess Effectiveness of Presence of Birth Companion for Intranatal Women on Maternal Wellbeing and Informative Communication in Selected Government Hospitals in West Bengal
Authors: Das Topi , Jana Manasi 
Published: August 2022

It was globally accepted that allowing Birth companion during labour and child birth is a core component for improving quality care for maternal and child health. But this concept is not universally applied to all health facility. So the researcher conducted “A study to assess effectiveness of presence of birth companion for intranatal women on maternal wellbeing and informative communication in selected government hospitals in West Bengal." The purpose of the study was to assess effectiveness of presence of birth companion for intranatal women on maternal wellbeing and informative communication. A descriptive evaluative research design was adopted to collect data among 64 (with birth companion-32, without birth companion-32) intranatal women selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by validated and reliable observational checklist (part A), (part B) structured interview schedule and semi structured interview schedule (r=0.82, 0.76, 0.77). Finding revealed that all intranatal women with birth companion received more comfort measures for maternal wellbeing (deep slow breathing 53.13%, back rub 100%, ambulation 87.5%, micturition 62.5% intake sip of water 100% and continuous reassurance 100%) compare to without birth companion (deep slow breathing 28.13%, back rub 21.87%, ambulation 56.25%, micturition 53.13% intake sip of water 56.25% and continuous reassurance 59.37%). Study also revealed that most intranatal women with birth companion felt more comfort after practicing deep slow breathing (25%), back rub (84.37%), ambulating (31.25%), intake sip of water (53.13%) compare to only 6.25% intranatal women without birth companion felt more comfort after intake sip of water and other area those were received comfort measures felt little comfort. Another findings of this study was that most of the intranatal women with birth companion received information about intake fluid (100%), slow walking (34.37%), foetal wellbeing and lie in left lateral position (96.87%), birthing position (100%) and bearing down effort during child birth (96.87%) compare to intranatal women without birth companion received information about intake fluid (56.25%), slow walking (31.25%), foetal wellbeing and lie in left lateral position (87.5%), birthing position (100%) and bearing down effort during child birth (93.75%) during their 1st stage of labour. The main finding was that there was significant difference in maternal wellbeing in terms of comfort level after receiving comfort measures for maternal wellbeing between intranatal women with and without birth companion (t=7.77 at df (62), p<0.05). There was also significant difference in informative communication between intranatal women without birth companion (t=3.45 at df (62), p<0.05). There was statistically no significant association between maternal wellbeing in terms of comfort level and demographic variables and obstetrical profile of intranatal women with and without birth companion at 0.05 level of significance. But according to odd ratio (OR) most intranatal women with birth companion felt comfort in respect of having relationship with birth companion (of women 1.05 times higher than mother-in-law), with gravida ( primi gravida 1.05 times higher than multi gravida) and gestational age ( >37 weeks 1.63 times higher than <37 weeks).Hospital authority, nursing administrators can encourage and allow intranatal women to have reliable birth companion with her throughout birthing process. The further study can be done in the other area of informative communication in terms of progress of labour, maternal wellbeing in terms of reducing labour pain, duration of labour and effectiveness of birth companion in terms of maternal satisfaction, maternal and neonatal outcome. So we can conclude on the basis of findings that intranatal women feel more comfort and receive more information in the presence of birth companion during labour process.

Keywords: birth companion, intranatal women, maternal wellbeing, informative communication.