What Women in Croatia Emphasize as Important Aspects of Care in
Childbirth: a research article
Abstract
Objective: To collect information regarding important aspects
of care during and after childbirth and to emphasize the importance of
patient-centered healthcare. Design: The study is based on data
from the Babies Born Better online survey, version 2. Setting:
The maternity care system in Croatia. Population: The study
involved 619 women who gave birth in Croatia between 2013 and 2018.
Methods: The collected data was analyzed using descriptive
statistics for closed questions and content analysis for open-ended
questions. Main outcome measures: Discussing and comparing
answers to open-ended questions. Results: This study shows that
257 (22.8%) respondents related the friendliness and attitude of
medical staff toward the mother as a positive experience related to
childbirth, while 106 (9.4%) mentioned the general quality and
expertise of health providers. These were also the reasons why the
respondents would recommend the facility where they gave birth to
others. When asked what they would change regarding childbirth, 139
(15.8%) respondents listed the lack of information during childbirth
and respect for the mother’s needs and the right to make decisions,
while 97 (11%) mentioned material conditions in the hospital, and 89
(10.1%) emphasized kindness and the attitude towards the mother.
Conclusion: This study confirmed that the overall attitude of
the medical staff is the most crucial factor in mothers’ evaluation of
their birth experience. We also found considerable dissatisfaction with
the current healthcare system and a need for change.