Jordanian women´s feelings, opinions and knowledge of vaginal examination during child Birth

Abstract EN

Objectives: To explore the feelings, opinions and knowledge of vaginal examination during normal labour in Jordanian women and to establish current practice of midwifery and obstetric staff regarding intimate examination to assess progress in labour.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional correlational design.

A semi-structured questionnaire was used, and interviews with 150 postpartum women were conducted.

The study was carried out during the postnatal period by three qualified midwives.

The completed questionnaire and all data were analyzed using (SPSS) version 19.

Descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistics Fisher Exact test were used.

Also `validated´ the questionnaire data against the medical records.

Results: Vaginal examinations were conducted with short intervals and were done frequently.Seventy-six women (50.7%) were examined between 5-12 times and one hundred ten (73.3%) were examined by 2-3 persons.

There was a significant association between the proportion of women receiving vaginal examination during childbirth and parity, type of delivery, birth attendant, the number of examiners, and VE attendant (P = 0.0, 0.002, 0.001, 0.000, 0.000, respectively).

59% reported severe pain during the examination, 56.7% reported that VEs were beneficial and 66% had correct information.

Sixty –one percent of women reported that health care provider asked permission without giving instructions.

Conclusion: Jordanian women are exposed to frequent and short interval vaginal exams during childbirth.

The examinations are conducted by too many providers.

Women reported suffering from pain, and poor respect for dignity and humanity, with insufficient means of privacy .

Although the majority of women were asked permission to perform the examination there was poor communication regarding indication,preparation and findings