The psychological impact of obstetric procedures
Date
2015-01-26
Authors
Hayward, Joyce Marion
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Abstract
The primary aim of the present study was to compare
mothers' reactions to obstetrical interventions and
procedures and obstetricians' perceptions of these.
The sample population consisted of one hundred and
forty seven white, married, English-speaking mothers
and a group of fifty three obstetricians practising in
trie Johannesburg area. Questionnaires, developed for
both groups, were administered postally to
obstetricians and in hospital within the first
post-partum week to mothers.
Perceptions of interventions occurring in the
ante-natal period and during the three stages of labour
were explored. Reactions to psycho-social and
hospital procedures were also obtained. Median and
modal ratings of these events were calculated for both
samples. The data were analysed using the Median test
to compare the groups and Fisher's exact probability
test to determine significant differences. Using a
significance level of one per cent, several significant
findings emerged.
Results suggested that, in general, obstetricians rated
mothers' experiences more negatively than did the
mothers themselves, These findings were discussed in
the light of available research and literature in the area