Factors influencing labour and birthing positions in Malawi

Abstract

Background/aims The World Health Organization encourages women in labour to ambulate and assume upright positions shown to be associated with favourable childbirth outcomes. However, the literature shows that most women in developed and developing countries, including Malawi, give birth in the supine position. There is a lack of research on factors that influence choice of birthing positions among women in Malawi. This study aimed to identify these factors. Methods A face-to-face descriptive survey was conducted on 373 low-risk postnatal women in Malawi. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine association between sociodemographic characteristics and choice of labour and birthing position, as well as to identify predictive factors. Results Walking during labour was significantly associated with age (P=0.018) and monthly family income (P=0.012). During birth, women who had received some degree of education were more likely to use the supine position than those who had not (93% vs 78%; P=0.011). However, women with a higher level of income were less likely to use the supine position than women with low income (82% vs 93%; P=0.005). Conclusions Age, income and education influence Malawian women's choices for labour and birthing position. There is a need for Malawian women to be informed about and encouraged to use different labour and birthing positions, regardless of their socioeconomic and demographic status, to promote positions that improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Childbirth education sessions or classes during antenatal care should include information on different birthing positions.

Women's preferred childbirth positions and associated factors among postpartum mothers in public hospitals of South West Shoa Zone,Oromia, Ethiopia, cross-sectional study supplemented by qualitative data

“…Mothers who earn a monthly income of 2500-5000 ETB were 2.95 times more likely to use their preferred childbirth position as compared to those who earn a monthly income of less than 2500 ETB. This finding is not similar to the finding of a study done in Malawi that shows a mother who earns a monthly family income of <60,000 Malawian Kwacha were more likely to use their preferred childbirth position than a mother who had earned a higher income (29). This variation might be due to socio-economic characteristics of the study participants and also those mothers who earn greater monthly income may have a chance to get information regarding knowledge of various birth positions from different mass media such as television, and other social media, and most of the time those who earn a greater income had higher educational status and they may have knowledge of the different birth position.…”