What the study found
Women with fear of birth who received intrapartum care in a midwifery continuity of care model in rural Sweden rated some aspects of care as below their expectations and others as better than expected. The study also found few major differences in care quality between women who had a known midwife during labour and birth and those who did not.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that aligning care content with women’s needs and values remains essential to improve satisfaction and outcomes in intrapartum care. They also suggest that women with fear of childbirth who experienced continuity with a known midwife were exposed to more interventions within the Swedish system.
What the researchers tested
This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 142 women with fear of birth who took part in a midwifery continuity of care project. Data came from two online questionnaires, and the researchers used the instrument Quality from the Patients’ Perspective to assess perceived reality and subjective importance of intrapartum care content.
What worked and what didn't
Deficiencies were reported for perception of control, involvement in decision-making, access to preferred pain relief, breastfeeding support, and information about labour progress. The midwife’s presence, involvement of the partner, chances to talk through the birth, and breastfeeding support were rated better than expected. Among women with a known midwife, higher odds were reported for labour induction, use of the method Give Birth Without Fear, and epidural use compared with women without a known midwife.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations in detail. The findings come from one rural area in Sweden and from women with fear of birth who participated in a specific continuity-of-care project, so the scope is limited to that group.
Key points
- The study examined 142 women with fear of birth in a midwifery continuity of care project in rural Sweden.
- Women reported gaps in control, decision-making, preferred pain relief, breastfeeding support, and information about labour progress.
- The midwife’s presence, partner involvement, and chances to talk through the birth were rated better than expected.
- Few major differences in intrapartum care quality were found between women with and without a known midwife.
- Women with a known midwife were more likely to have labour induced, use Give Birth Without Fear, and receive an epidural.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Women with fear of birth rated intrapartum care as both lacking and adequate
- Authors:
- Ingegerd Hildingsson, Klockar Linda Nääs, Ingela Wiklund, Margareta Johansson
- Institutions:
- Dalarna University, Dalarna University, Mid Sweden University, Uppsala University
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-09
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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