Exploring women's, birth partners' and healthcare professionals' views and experiences of childbirth related perineal trauma care provision in high income countries: A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis.

BACKGROUND

Childbirth related perineal trauma affects 80 % of women during vaginal birth in the UK. Childbirth related perineal trauma can create short and long term complications for women such as pain and incontinence.

AIM: The review aimed to explore women's, their birth partners' and health care professionals' views and experiences of childbirth related perineal trauma care provision in high income countries.

METHODS

Search terms and eligibility criteria were developed and four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO and CINAHL) were searched in February 2024, yielding 5638 results. Studies were independently screened by two reviewers and disputes resolved by a third. Study quality was assessed using the critical appraisal skills programme, thematic synthesis analysed primary data, and confidence in findings were evaluated.

FINDINGS: 22 studies were included, containing 3473 women and 56 HCPs. No studies were identified for views of birth partners. Women reported they wanted more antenatal and postnatal information about childbirth related perineal trauma, that experiences of perineal repair were affected by health care professional behaviours, and that postnatal care was not always sufficient to meet their needs. Health care professionals highlighted a need for improved education for providing care to women after childbirth related perineal trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from the review can inform the development of care pathways to improve care and associated outcomes for women after childbirth related perineal trauma. Further research is needed to explore the views of birth partners and a wider range of health care professionals involved in caring for women after childbirth related perineal trauma.