Dignity in Childbirth: US Women’s Perceptions of Respect and Autonomy in Hospital Births
Gender, Women’s Health Care Concerns and Other Social Factors in Health and Health Care
ISBN: 978-1-78756-176-2, eISBN: 978-1-78756-175-5
Publication date: 18 September 2018
Abstract
Purpose
There is extensive research documenting the physical outcomes of childbirth, but significantly less on socio-psychological outcomes. Investigating women’s perception of dignified treatment during birth contributes to a salient, under-examined aspect of women’s childbirth experiences.
Methodology/approach
We use a two-part conceptualization of dignity, respect and autonomy, to understand how birth experiences and interactions either facilitate or undermine women’s perceived dignity. Data came from the Listening-to-Mothers I survey, the first nationally representative study of postpartum women in the United States (n = 1,406). Through linear regression analysis, we separately modeled women’s perception of respectful treatment and women’s perception of medical autonomy during birth.
Findings
Overall women reported high scores for both autonomy and respect. Differences between the models emerged related primarily to the role of interventions and provider support. While women’s perceived dignity is related to elements that she brings in to the delivery room (e.g., birth knowledge, health status), much variation was explained by the medical encounter itself (e.g., type of medical interventions, pain management, nurse support, and number of staff present).
Research limitations/implications
This study is cross-sectional, and required either a telephone or internet access, thus limiting the full generalizability of findings. Two findings have direct practical relevance for promoting women’s dignity in childbirth. First, the number of staff persons present during labor and birth was negatively associated with both respect and autonomy. Second, that women with high levels of knowledge about their legal rights during childbirth were more likely to report high scores on the dignity scale. Limiting staff in the delivery room and including knowledge of legal rights in childbirth education or during prenatal visits may be two mechanisms to promote dignity in birth.
Originality/value
These findings address an important, under-examined aspect of women’s childbirth experiences. This study investigates how different birth experiences and interactions either promote or violate childbearing women’s perception of dignity, and has significant implications for the provision of maternal healthcare. The results reinforce the importance of focusing on the socio-psychological dimensions of childbirth.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgment
A previous version of this manuscript was presented at the 2016 American Sociological Association Annual Meetings in Seattle, WA. We thank the session members for their feedback.
Funding Statement
There are no funding sources to report for this manuscript.
Citation
Liddell, J. and Johnson, K.M. (2018), "Dignity in Childbirth: US Women’s Perceptions of Respect and Autonomy in Hospital Births", Gender, Women’s Health Care Concerns and Other Social Factors in Health and Health Care (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 36), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 87-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0275-495920180000036004
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018 Emerald Publishing Limited