The lived experiences of postnatal mothers receiving birth companionship care in Katavi region, Tanzania: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived experience of postnatal mothers receiving birth companionship care in the Katavi region. Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of eleven postnatal women who received birth companionship care during intrapartum. The study was conducted between May and June 2023, and postnatal women were conveniently sampled, with all participants providing their consent to participate. Data were collected through in-depth, semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which involved the following steps: familiarizing oneself with the data, conducting preliminary coding, organizing themes, creating an initial coding template, refining the template, and applying it to the entire dataset. Results: Six themes and twenty subthemes emerged in the current study. The main themes were (1) Choosing birth companions (BCs), (2) Mixed feelings about BCs, (3) Services offered by BCs, (4) Presence of BC during the intrapartum period, (5) Supportive infrastructure for birth companionship, (6) Challenges encountered with the presence of BCs. Conclusion: The study found that women who had a BC during intrapartum experienced mixed feelings. Some participants acknowledged the significant role that BCs played throughout the process. In contrast, others expressed concerns about knowledge and privacy violations and opted not to have a BC present during childbirth. However, they consented to their presence during the first stage of labor. The women employed various methods to select their BCs, who assumed a range of responsibilities in providing care, both formally and informally. It is essential to enhance community awareness of the importance of BCs during labor and childbirth, as well as to provide them with training during the antenatal period to understand their roles better.