Women’s Experiences of Emotional Recovery from Childbirth-Related Perineal Trauma: A Qualitative Content analysis

Abstract

<strong>Background: </strong>The postpartum health care program in Iran is limited to the first six weeks of delivery<br />and only focuses on women's physical problems. It seems that the issue of emotional recovery is<br />underestimated in postnatal women with prenatal injuries. This study was designed to explore women's<br />experiences of emotional recovery from childbirth-related perineal trauma.<br /><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative content analysis was performed on 22 postnatal women with perineal trauma<br />during labor at Omol-banin Hospital from the 20th of April to 25th of December in Mashhad, Iran in<br />2016. The participants were purposively selected between 10 days to one year after childbirth. Data<br />were collected through semi-structured interviews and saturated after 26 interviews. The analysis<br />of data was concurrently carried out using conventional content analysis adopted by Elo and Kyngas<br />(2008). The MAXQDA software (Ver.10) was used for data organization.<br /><strong>Results: </strong>Emotional recovery after birth trauma is defined as going on a journey from negative emotions<br />to subjective well-being. Two super-ordinate generic categories emerged from the analysis: 1) feeling<br />trapped in multifaceted issues, and 2) regaining possession of life. The participants encountered<br />numerous concerns initially and with the help of family and community support, they regained the<br />ability to dominate life and develop a pleasant mood. Improving physical functions had an essential<br />role in regaining emotional well-being and enjoying daily life.<br /><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of this study promoted our understanding of the emotional recovery in women<br />with childbirth-related perineal trauma. This helps the caregivers to understand woman's emotional<br />concerns and needs in order to offer appropriate counseling services.