ArticlePloS one2025
"If my husband was in the labor ward with me, my baby wouldn't have died"; experiences on birth companionship from a tertiary health facility, Tanzania.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- What Is My Role? A Qualitative Study of Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Experiences of Partners.Nursing & health sciences · 2026Article
- Navigating norms: a qualitative exploration of factors shaping contraceptive use in Senegal.Frontiers in global women's health · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite existing policies promoting companionship, it remains uncommon in Tanzania. Pregnant women select a trusted individual to accompany them during childbirth, providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The World Health Organization recommends birth companionship as integral to intrapartum care for positive maternal and fetal outcomes.
objectiveThis study aimed to explore the experiences of pregnant women and healthcare providers regarding childbirth companionship at a tertiary health facility in Tanzania.
methodsParticipants were purposefully selected for qualitative exploratory interviews. Focused group discussions were conducted with pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, and in-depth interviews were held with healthcare providers at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital in Tanzania. Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data.
resultsThree major themes emerged: "Bonding and Learning with Spouse/Partner," "Assurance of Maternal Safety," and "Fear of Blame and Breach of Confidentiality." These themes highlight a strong desire among both pregnant women and healthcare providers for companionship during labor, particularly from male partners. Emotional support and safety were cited as key reasons. Fear, however, was identified as a major obstacle, with providers concerned about potential exposure of mistakes and pregnant women fearing a violation of their privacy rights regarding health matters.
conclusionPregnant women expressed a strong desire for companionship throughout labor. However, companionship faced challenges due to staff shortages and inadequate privacy in labor wards. There is a pressing need to enhance childbirth companionship practices and policies in low-resource settings.
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