Prospective and Observational Study of Practicing Birth Companion at KRH: A Quality Improvement Endeavor (Code-T0197)

Introduction: Birth companionship during labor is a proven strategy to enhance maternal and neonatal outcomes, providing emotional, informational, and physical support. Despite global recognition, its implementation remains underutilized in many healthcare settings. This study examines the practice of birth companionship at KRH as a quality improvement measure to enhance labor care.

Aims and Objectives:

Aims

To implement the practice of birth companions upto 90% during labor to provide respectful maternity care.

 Objectives

1. To assess the effectiveness of presence of birth companion for intranatal women on maternal and fetal well being.
2. To provide quality care by maintaining privacy and dignity of patient by good communication including emotional and social support.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at KRH over six months. Women admitted to the labor ward were offered a trained birth companion of their choice. Data on maternal satisfaction, labor duration, interventions, neonatal outcomes, and staff perspectives were collected through structured questionnaires and observational checklists. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed to evaluate the program's effectiveness.

Results: The implementation of birth companions resulted in improved maternal satisfaction scores (90% reporting positive experiences), reduced labor duration by 15%, and a 10% decline in cesarean rates. Neonatal outcomes, including Apgar scores and early breastfeeding initiation, improved significantly. However, challenges such as space constraints and staff apprehensions were noted.

Conclusion: Practicing birth companionship at KRH is a feasible and effective quality improvement initiative that enhances maternal and neonatal outcomes. Addressing logistical challenges and fostering staff engagement are essential for scaling up the program.

Keywords: Birth companion, maternal outcomes, neonatal outcomes, labor support, quality improvement, KRH.