Companionship during facility-based childbirth: results from a mixed-methods study with recently delivered women and providers in Kenya

摘要

BackgroundResearch suggests that birth companionship, and in particular, continuous support during labor and delivery, can improve women’s childbirth experience and birth outcomes. Yet, little is known about the extent to which birth companionship is practiced, as well as women and providers’ perceptions of it in low-resource settings. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of birth companionship, and women and providers’ perceptions of it in health facilities in a rural County in Western Kenya.