Investigating the Effect of Online Childbirth Preparation Classes on Selected Indicators of Mother Friendly Hospitals in Qazvin City: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Childbirth preparation classes can help promote physiologic childbirth in mothers. These classes were held online, Due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of online training method on Selected Indicators of Mother Friendly Hospitals.

Methods: This is prospective Cohort study. 67pregnant women were in exposure and 72 in non-exposed group. Sampling was from November 2022 to May 2023 by the convenience sampling method and group matching was performed. The exposure was attending in online Childbirth Preparation Classes and intended outcomes were the rates of cesarean section, episiotomy, induction and use of pain relief methods that compared between the two groups. Data collection was by using the checklist of indicators of mother-friendly hospitals and the fear of childbirth questionnaire. SPSS software (23) and relative risk test was   used to analyze the data.  P-value was 0.05.

Results: The rates of episiotomy, induction, and the use of pharmacological pain relief methods in the exposure group were respectively 65.8%, 76.3%, 45%, while being 81.5%, 33.3%, 70.4% in the non-exposure group. (p=0.16, 0.58, 0.42) The rate of caesarean section was 43.2 in exposure group and 62.5% in exposure (RR=0.69, CI: 0.49-0.96, P=0.02) and the use of non-pharmacological methods were 60.5% in the exposure group a 18.5% in the non-exposure group.(RR=3.27,CI:1.42-7.50,P=0.001) (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Online education can improve some indicators of a mother-friendly hospital, such as the use of non-pharmacological pain relief methods.  Thus, it was a suitable alternative for face-to-face classes in crisis period.