Effect of the presence of support person and routine intervention for women during childbirth in Isfahan, Iran: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the presence of continuous support person and routine interventions during labor and delivery in Isfahan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred pregnant women in spontaneous labor were assessed in four groups: Group 1; received routine intervention with a support person, Group 2; received routine intervention without support person, Group 3; received support person without routine intervention, Group 4; did not receive routine intervention or a support person. Sociodemographic, antenatal characteristics, length of stage of labor, instrumental delivery, the cervical laceration, perineal tear, labor pain, satisfaction and Apgar score collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Based on the results there was no significant difference in regard to maternal age, BMI, maternal education and working statutes among the studied groups (P-value >0.05). Also, 1 and 5-min Apgar <7, cervical lacerations and instrumental delivery among studied groups were similar (P-value >0.05). Length of first and second stage of labor, perineal tear, satisfaction score and pain before and after labor were significant among studied groups (P-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of a support person and routine intervention during labor did not effect on incidence of cervical lacerations, instrumental delivery and Apgar <7. Labor pain and women's dissatisfaction, and number women with third and fourth degree of perineal tear among women who received routine intervention were increased compare to others. Interventions makes decreased the length of first and second stage of labor. In totally, the presence of a support person during labor in Iranian women decrease length of labor and improved labor outcomes.