Development of guidelines in utilising birth companions of women in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Development of guidelines in utilising birth companions of women in Limpopo Province, South Africa Seroto, Mapula Ennia The purpose of the study was to investigate the utilisation of birth companions by women in the public sector labour wards of Limpopo Province, South Africa, to develop guidelines for implementation of birth companionship. A mixed method research approach of inquiry was used to determine if the postnatal women have knowledge on birth companionship, how midwives perceive the utilisation of birth companions and what are the factors that inhibit the utilisation of birth companions. A questionnaire was used to collect information from postnatal women (n=304) while a semi-structured interview was utilised to obtain data from the midwives (n-15). The target population was postnatal women between 18-45 years and midwives who worked in the labour ward. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS Version 26 by generating frequencies, descriptions, inferential statistics and a chi-square. The quantitative response rate was 100%. The following constructs were examined: the socio-demographic characteristics of postnatal women, reproductive health information during ANC, physical factors during labour, postnatal, psycho-social and the motivating factors and challenges of having a birth companion. The study revealed that most postnatal women (245 out of 304) (80.59%; f=245) did not have knowledge on birth companions. The postnatal women (260 out of 304) (85.53%; f=260) and midwives perceived birth companionship as good. The study also highlighted that that there were factors that inhibit the utilisation of birth companions in public health facilities on women and the midwives which may hamper the successful offering of respectful maternity care services to the women during labour. The research findings were used to develop guidelines that will help the health care professionals to initiate birth companionship in health care facilities to improve birth outcomes on both mothers and neonates.