Links between patient safety and fear of childbirth—A meta-study of qualitative research

Abstract

Aim: To conduct a meta-study of qualitative empirical research to explore the links between patient safety and fear of childbirth in the maternity care context. The review questions were: How are patient safety and fear of childbirth described? and What are the links between patient safety and fear of childbirth in the maternity care context?. Design: Meta-study. Data sources: The CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Webb of Science, Proquest and Medline (Ovid) electronic databases were searched for articles published between June 2000-June 2016. Review methods: A meta-study of qualitative research with a thematic analysis followed by a synthesis. Results: Four descriptive themes emerged: “Physical risks associated with giving birth vaginally”; “Control and safety issues”; “Preventing psychological maternal trauma and optimizing foetal well-being”; and “Fear of the transition to motherhood due to lack of confidence”. The two overarching analytical themes: “Opting for safety” and “An insecure environment breeds fear of childbirth”, represent a deeper understanding and constitute the synthesis of the links between patient safety and fear of childbirth. This meta-study indicates the need for increased commitment to safe care and professional support to reduce risks and prevent unnecessary harm in maternity care.