Women’s experiences of emotional recovery from childbirth-related perineal trauma: A qualitative Content analysis

Background: The postpartum health care program in Iran is limited to the first six weeks of delivery and only focuses on women’s physical problems. It seems that the issue of emotional recovery is underestimated in postnatal women with prenatal injuries. So this study was designed to explore women’s experiences of emotional recovery from childbirth-related perineal trauma.Method: This qulitative content analysis was performed on 22 postnatal women with perineal trauma during labor at Omol-banin Hospital from 20thApril to 25th December- in Mashhad, Iran in 2016. Participants were purposively selected between 10 days to one year after childbirth. . Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and saturated after 26 interviews. The analysis of data was concurrently carried out using conventional content analysis adopted by Elo and Kyngas (2008). The MAXQDA software (Ver.10) was used for data organization.Results: Emotional recovery after birth trauma means going on a journey from negative emotions to subjective well-being .Two phases were represented by two super-ordinate generic categories: 1) feeling trapped in multifaceted issues, and 2) regaining possession of life. Participants encountered numerous concerns initially and with the help of family and community support, they regained the ability to dominate life and develop a pleasant mood. Improving physical functions had essential role to regain emotional well-being and enjoyment in their daily activities.Conclusion: The results of this study promote our understanding of the emotional recovery in women with childbirth-related perineal trauma. This helps caregivers to understand woman’s emotional concerns and needs in order to offer those appropriate counseling services.Message to policymakers: It is necessary to pay attention to the second stage of emotional recovery and care in the post-partum care forms of women with perinatal injuries until these symptoms continue. Ignorance leads to depression and negative emotions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Emotions ، Injuries ، Postnatal Care