Perspectives of Italian pregnant women on pregnancy examinations and pregnancy care: is the caregiver more important than the care?

Ugo Indraccolo; Simona Cona; Alexandra Nistor; Salvatore Renato Indraccolo; Romolo Di Iorio; Piergiorgio Fedeli; Carlo De Angelis

doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS2.11361

Perspectives of Italian pregnant women on pregnancy examinations and pregnancy care: is the caregiver more important than the care?

Authors

Ugo Indraccolo
Simona Cona Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical, and Urological Sciences. “Sapienza” University of Rome.
Alexandra Nistor Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical, and Urological Sciences. “Sapienza” University of Rome.
Salvatore Renato Indraccolo Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical, and Urological Sciences. “Sapienza” University of Rome.
Romolo Di Iorio Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome.
Piergiorgio Fedeli School of Law, Legal medicine. University of Camerino, Italy.
Carlo De Angelis Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical, and Urological Sciences. “Sapienza” University of Rome. AND Operative Unit of Obstetrics, Fabia Mater Clinic of Rome.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92iS2.11361

Keywords:

low-risk pregnancy, midwives-led care, obstetrics and gynecologist-led care, liability, knowledge, Italy.

Abstract

Aim. Assessing awareness of Italian low-risk pregnant patients on low-risk pregnancy care and what do they feel about their own pregnancy. Methods. A questionnaire was administered to 382 low-risk pregnant women. This questionnaire assessed general knowledge of low-risk pregnancy, low-risk pregnancy care, and how much patients rated ten topics of low-risk pregnancy care. It would be expected that the knowledge of each topic would associates with the patient’s perceived importance of that topic. Results. Poor knowledge of pregnancy care was proven. Patients seem to incorrectly overrate vaginal examinations and obstetric and gynecologist-led care, while they attribute appropriate importance to midwife-led care. The more examinations performed (vaginal examinations, sonographic checks, cardiotocographies), the higher their rating. Conclusions. In Italy, expectations of pregnant women about their own pregnancy are incorrectly trusted in the obstetrics and gynecologists. Both poor knowledge of pregnancy care and cultural perspectives on the birth process amongst Italian people explain the finding. Referring low-risk pregnant women to midwives would help them to rate more the care than the caregiver.

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