Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan HTI
Affiliation :
(1) Labour Ward and Operation Theatre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
According to research from the World Health Organization (WHO), caesarean section use continues to rise globally, now accounting for more than 1 in 5 (21%) of all childbirths (WHO, 2021), while the caesarean section rate of QMH in 2023 was 31%. While a caesarean section can be an essential and lifesaving surgery, it can put women and babies at unnecessary risk of short- and long-term health problems if performed when there is not medical indication. Caesarean sections can be essential in situations such as prolonged or obstructed labour, fetal distress, or because the baby is presenting in an abnormal position. However, as with all surgeries, they can have risks. These include the potential for heavy bleeding or infection, slower recovery times after childbirth, delays in establishing breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, and increased likelihood of complications in future pregnancies (WHO, 2021).
Objectives :
To design an information booklet for labouring women who admitted to labour ward, Queen Mary Hospital. And to assess their confidence and anxiety level after reading the material and analyze their childbirth outcome.
Methodology :
A newly designed information booklet named ‘Information About Labour, Induction and Delivery’, which included information about induction, spontaneous onset, various pain relief methods, birth positions, modes of delivery, skin-to-skin contact and breastmilk expression, in both Chinese and English. It spent 2 months to design the layout and content and the printing of the booklet (May-June, 2024). The booklet would be introduced to all women admitted for induction, pain relief and early phase of labour, by their responsible midwives.
Result & Outcome :
To increase patient satisfaction during labour and reduce pharmacological pain relief rate A survey would be given and to assess their anxious level and confidence level towards their delivery before and after the booklet reading, according to VIS. And their comments of the booklet would be gathered and analyzed. Rate of pharmacological pain relief would be assessed throughout the research period. Increase in overall confidence level, decrease in overall anxiety level and reduction in pharmacological pain relief use through out the research period.
