Abstract
Theoretical Foundations: The conclusions of several studies suggest that the flexibility of coping strategies in the face of diverse stressful situations is also active in parturient as an important protective factor. Increasing parental self-efficacy and other aspects of psychological resistance is an important part of intervention when working with fresh parents.
Research Goals: The general aim of the research was to study women’s satisfaction with perinatal care in Czech maternity hospitals. In the follow-up study, we focused on the impact of social and psychological determinants of birth experience on changes in parental self-efficacy.
Sample: The study provides information on women’s satisfaction with perinatal care based on a representative sample of 1,195 women. The 2nd includes data of 118 parturient.
Methods: We gathered the data using questionnaires. Main findings: Women report generally high birth and parental self-efficacy both before birth and after it.
Women are largely satisfied with the social support provided by their relatives. There is generally positive assessment of the psychosocial climate in the hospital.
But there still remains one third of the women who experience lack of participation in decision-making, lack of information and disrespect to women’s wishes. Women also negatively perceived the impersonal and routine treatment especially in the large maternity hospitals with more than 800 births per year.
Satisfaction with childbirth is predicted by support from health professionals, internal control during childbirth and the experience of obstructed labor. Increase of parental selfefficacy is predicted primarily by lower score of the antenatal parental self-efficacy, ease to calm child, support and a higher score on the part of health professionals during childbirth.