# Implementation and evaluation of the WHO maternity care model: a convergent parallel mixed-methods study protocol

## TL;DR

This study evaluates the World Health Organization's maternity care model to see if it improves women's childbirth experiences and mental health.

## Contribution

The study introduces a mixed-methods protocol to assess the WHO maternity care model's impact on labor outcomes and psychological well-being.

## Key findings

- The study will compare outcomes between women receiving WHO-based care and routine hospital care.
- Qualitative insights will highlight women's subjective experiences with the WHO model.
- Results may show if the model reduces mental disorders and unnecessary cesarean sections.

## Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), intrapartum care is considered a platform for providing respectful, personalized, and women-centered services to women. This study aims to investigate the intrapartum care model proposed by WHO.

This convergent parallel mixed-methods study will be carried out in qualitative and quantitative phases. In the quantitative phase (a quasi-experimental study), 108 pregnant women admitted to the maternity ward will be randomized to intervention (receiving intrapartum care based on the WHO model) and control group (receiving routine hospital care) before the beginning of the active stage of labor (cervix dilatation equal to 5 cm) and Wijma's delivery fear scale (DFS) will be completed for them and again at 7–8 cm dilatation. The participants of both groups will be followed up for 6 weeks after labor and then they will be invited to a relatively quiet place to complete the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ 2.0), the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptom Scale (PSS-I), the Pregnancy and Childbirth Questionnaire (PCQ), exclusive breastfeeding and a checklist on willingness to give birth to another child. The qualitative phase will employ content analysis to explain mothers' views about the effects of this model especially subjective components of this model on their labor process after 4–6 weeks. The two phase's results will be discussed in combination.

The implementation of such care models is expected to prevent mental disorders caused by negative experiences of childbirth, and also, prevent uncontrolled increases in cesarean sections.

https://fa.irct.ir/user/trial/68313/view, identifier (IRCT20120718010324N69).