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Development of the Childbirth Perception Scale (CPS): perception of delivery and the first postpartum week

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Abstract

Some caregivers suggest a more positive experience of childbirth when giving birth at home. Since properly developed instruments that assess women’s perception of delivery and the early postpartum are missing, the aim of the current study is to develop a Childbirth Perception Scale (CPS). Three focus groups with caregivers, pregnant women, and women who recently gave birth were conducted. Psychometric properties of 23 candidate items derived from the interviews were tested with explorative factor analysis (EFA) (N = 495). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed in another sample of women (N = 483) and confirmed a 12-item CPS. The EFA in sample I suggested a two-component solution: a subscale ‘perception of delivery’ (six items) and a subscale ‘perception of the first postpartum week’ (six items). The CFA in sample II confirmed an adequate model fit and a good internal consistency (α = .82). Multivariate linear regression showed a positive effect of home delivery on perception of delivery in multiparous but not in primiparous women. The 12-item CPS with two dimensions (perception of delivery and perception of first postpartum week) has adequate psychometric properties. In multiparous women, home delivery showed to be independently related to more positive perception of delivery.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to all the community midwives of the Eindhoven area for their contribution of inviting women to participate in the project. This study was made possible by a ZonMW-grant (dossier number 50-50200-98-007) and is part of the ZonMw-program ‘Pregnancy and Childbirth’ (in Dutch, Programma ‘Zwangerschap en Geboorte’).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands

    Sophie E. M. Truijens & S. Guid Oei

  2. Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Antoinette M. Pommer & Victor J. M. Pop

  3. Department of Midwifery Science, Maastricht-ZUYD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Hennie A. Wijnen

Authors
  1. Sophie E. M. Truijens
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  2. Hennie A. Wijnen
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  3. Antoinette M. Pommer
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  4. S. Guid Oei
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  5. Victor J. M. Pop
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor J. M. Pop.

Appendix

Appendix

Beleving van bevalling en kraambed./Experience of childbirth and the first postpartum week.

Hieronder volgen enkele uitspraken die betrekking hebben op de manier waarop vrouwen de bevalling hebben beleefd. Dit geldt ook voor de daarop volgende kraambedperiode (dit is de periode tot aan de laatste controle van de verloskundige, vaak rond de 8ste-10e dag van het kraambed). Door het hokje aan te kruisen onder een antwoordmogelijkheid kunt u aangeven in hoeverre u het eens bent met een uitspraak. Kruis bij elke vraag slechts één hokje aan.

Below some statements related to how women have experienced childbirth and the first postpartum week (first 7 days after childbirth). Please indicate how much you agree with each statement by ticking the boxes. Please tick only one box per question.

Table 6 The Childbirth Perception Scale
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Truijens, S.E.M., Wijnen, H.A., Pommer, A.M. et al. Development of the Childbirth Perception Scale (CPS): perception of delivery and the first postpartum week. Arch Womens Ment Health 17, 411–421 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0420-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0420-0

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