Attitudes of Nigerian women toward the presence of their husband or partner as a support person during labor

Objective: To assess the attitudes of Nigerian women regarding the presence of a husband/partner during labor. Methods: Women who were invited to participate in a randomized trial regarding companionship in labor at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria, were interviewed in a qualitative cross-sectional survey. Demographic characteristics and opinions regarding the presence of a partner/husband as a support person during labor were assessed. Results: Of the 197 women interviewed, 69 declined all forms of social companionship during labor; of the remaining 128 participants who did not object to having a social companion-71 declined to have their husband/partner present during labor because of: personal embarrassment (28 [39.4%]); fear of loss of sexual attractiveness (19 [26.8%]); concern for their husband/partner (17 [23.9%]); and lack of privacy (15 [21.1%]). Of the 57 women whose husband/partner accompanied them during labor, 38 (66.7%) said that they would repeat the experience in subsequent labor, and 34 (59.6%) would recommend it. However, 15 (26.3%) expressed dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The issue of husband/partner companionship during labor is viewed with concern by Nigerian women, who should be allowed to make an informed decision. (C) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.