Literature Review on Self Evaluation of Childbirth Experience

Abstract

Purpose : The purposes are to determine current status and challenges of research concerning self evaluation of childbirth experience and to develop variables effective and useful in such research. Methods : The literature search was conducted with keywords of "childbirth experience", "self evaluation" and "scale" in CINAHL, MedLine and peer-reviewed medical journals. The articles searched were published between 1960 and 2001. Results : One hundred and thirty one articles were hit and 47 of which were selected and reviewed since they had description of self evaluation of childbirth experience and were well organized scientific papers. The gynecological, psychological and social variables affecting self evaluation were identified. Conclusion : The following challenges were identified in childbirth experience research ; 1. necessity to conduct studies using larger samples to compare evaluation of childbirth experience between those who had normal and abnormal deliveries, 2. necessity to conduct empirical research to identify the relationship between self evaluation of childbirth experience and postpartum psychological healthsuch as postpartum depression and feeling of self respect), and 3. necessity to conduct practical research concerning reconstruction and interpretation of childbirth experience.