Correlations between primiparous women’s perceived internal control, external control, support and their birth experience

BACKGROUND
Perceived control and support can contribute to a positive childbirth experience. However, most studies have not differentiated between perceived internal and external control.

OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to assess primiparous women’s perceived internal control, external control, and support, including family and professional support and their association with the childbirth experience.

METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out on 800 primiparous mothers recruited from health centers across Tabriz, Iran, through cluster sampling. The childbirth experience questionnaire (2.0) and the support and control in birth scale were used to measure women’s childbirth experience and their perceived internal and external control and support. Data were collected through an interview during early postpartum and analyzed by independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and general linear model.

RESULTS
The results demonstrated a significant correlation between perceived internal control (r = 0.80, p < .001), external control (r = 0.79, p < .001) and professional support (r = 0.83, p < .001) with childbirth experience. By controlling confounders such as socio-demographic and reproductive variables, internal control [β (95% CI): 0.28 (0.25 to 0.31); p < .001], external control [0.10 (0.06 to 0.14); p < .001], professional support [0.27 (0.23 to 0.30); p < .001], were independent predictors of positive childbirth experience.

CONCLUSION
These findings point to the importance of perceived internal, external control and professional support and the relationship between healthcare providers, especially midwives, with the women in improving childbirth experience. It is suggested that healthcare providers give support to women and utilize methods that enhance women’s control during labor and childbirth.