Barriers and Beliefs: A Qualitative Study of Jordanian Women’s Perceptions on Allowing Companions in the Labour Room

Abstract

Improved maternal experiences and outcomes have been widely linked to the presence of birth companions. However, cultural norms, institutional constraints, and privacy concerns frequently restrict women’s choice of birth companions in many Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan. This study investigated Jordanian women’s beliefs and barriers about the presence of companions in the labour room. A qualitative descriptive study design was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s framework for thematic analysis. Thirteen women (ages 21 to 38 years) with prior pregnancy and childbirth experience were chosen from a free health awareness event in Irbid, Northern Jordan in July 2025, to participate in semi-structured interviews. The responses were recorded on audio tapes and subsequently stored in their original format. Data were coded, transcribed, and then thematically analyzed to identify beliefs and perceived barriers. The most significant beliefs were: (i) emotional and psychological support, wherein companionship was thought to alleviate fear and provide reassurance; (ii) strengthening family ties, as women saw shared childbirth experiences as improving family bonds; and (iii) cultural and religious interpretations, wherein female relatives were frequently seen as more acceptable than husbands. Women reported two barriers to allowing companions in the labour room: (i) privacy and modesty issues, where they feared embarrassment, exposure, and judgment, and (ii) institutional and policy restrictions, such as restrictive hospital regulations. Although Jordanian women recognized the emotional and interpersonal benefits of having company during childbirth, they encountered numerous substantial institutional, cultural, and privacy-related barriers. Improving women’s birth experiences and promoting respectful maternity care may be achieved by addressing these issues through culturally sensitive education, privacy-enhancing infrastructure, and regulatory reform.