Appropriateness of the delivery room and healthcare Professionals' communication and health care services during delivery in the Gaza strip: Women's perspective.

Abstract

Introduction: Properly prepared delivery rooms are crucial for enhancing women's delivery experiences and reducing postpartum complications. Effective communication between healthcare providers and women is equally essential for delivering respectful maternity care. This study aimed to assess delivery room appropriateness and communication effectiveness at Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed all women who delivered at Al-Shifa Medical Complex during a 2-week period. A self-constructed questionnaire with 18 items evaluated communication during delivery, and a mini-scale assessed delivery room appropriateness. The Kruskal-Wallis test determined associations between communication, satisfaction, and sociodemographic factors (significance level, P < 0.05).

Results: A total sample of 406 women was interviewed and included in the study, with a median age of 26 years (interquartile range, 23-30 years). Of the overall sample, 189 (46.6%) had a bachelor's degree and 187 (46.1%) had completed their secondary school. The number of deliveries ranged between 1 and 9, with a median of 3 (interquartile range, 2-4). The majority of women demonstrated an excellent communication level with the medical staff (median score, 7). A total of 319 (78.6%) women were satisfied with the way medical services were provided by the medical staff (4 or 5 out of 5). Using the mini-scale, the delivery rooms were appropriate, with 64.7% of the standardized equipment and measures implemented. There was a statistically significant association between satisfaction with medical services and educational level, and the number of previous deliveries (P = 0.002 and P = 0.018, respectively).

Conclusions: While communication levels in delivery rooms were generally good, improvements are necessary to align practices with global guidelines and ensure consistently respectful care for women during delivery.