Perceptions of Antenatal Women, Husband and Health Service Providers on Husband being Birth Companion during Childbirth: A Qualitative Study

Objectives: 1) To explore the perceptions of pregnant woman, husband and service providers about the presence of husband as a birth companion during childbirth. 2) To know the birth experiences of women who are multiple gravid. Data Sources: Primary data is collected from two selected hospitals in Kolkata, one each of a private and government hospital. Methodology: An exploratory study design is adopted to elicit information from the selected respondents. In-depth interviews are conducted with 38 pregnant women and 38 husbands, who were beneficiaries of the selected hospitals. Besides this, 24 health service providers were interviewed who were working in one of the two selected hospitals. The checklist was used for gathering information which was pre tested. Findings: Most respondents perceived the practice of allowing husband as a birth companion will be an advantage for reasons like moral support, inner strength and confidence for woman in labor and lesser fear of pain for her. They also felt it will ensure respectful behavior from service providers. Some respondents perceived this practice can reduce domestic violence, and increase usage of spacing and limiting methods of family planning too. Respondents also believed it will compromise with the privacy of other women who will be delivering in the same room and would bring stigma from the cultural point of view. Service providers have this opinion and have also shared their experience that husbands generally become sick and giddy as they are not used to be in such a situation. Conclusion: Women generally perceived that having their husbands as birth companion would significantly improve the quality of their birthing experience. The providers also seemed to share this view, though some felt that having husband might have negative consequences.