Effectiveness of Spousal Presence and Support on Anxiety and Birth Outcome among Primi Parturient Mothers in Selected Hospitals: A Pilot Study

Background: Childbirth is a stressful life event, particularly for primi parturient mothers, who commonly experience heightened anxiety, severe pain perception, and negative birth experiences. Evidence suggests that continuous emotional support, especially from spouses, may positively influence maternal psychological well-being and birth outcomes. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of spousal presence and support on anxiety, pain, and birth outcomes among primi parturient mothers. Methods: A quantitative true experimental pilot study was conducted among 16 primi parturient mothers (8 experimental and 8 control) selected through simple random sampling from selected hospitals. The experimental group received spousal presence and structured support during labor, while the control group received routine hospital care. Anxiety, pain, and birth outcome were assessed using standardized tools during pretest and post-test phases. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Post-test anxiety, pain, and birth outcome scores significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group ( P < 0.001). The experimental group demonstrated a significant reduction in mean anxiety score (28.62 ± 5.12 to 14.0 ± 3.12), pain score (8.62 ± 1.19 to 3.87 ± 1.25), and a significant improvement in birth outcome score (32.0 ± 10.98 to 63.62 ± 12.18). No significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Spousal presence and support during labor were found to be effective in reducing anxiety and pain and improving birth outcomes among primi parturient mothers. The findings support the feasibility of conducting a large-scale trial and integrating spousal support into routine intrapartum care.