Practice of spirituality in childbirth: Exploring the barriers and facilitators among pregnant women in primary health centres of Oyo State, Nigeria

Spirituality plays a central role in coping during childbirth, yet its integration in maternity care remains limited. This study explores the Barriers and Facilitators to the practice of spirituality in Childbirth among Pregnant Women in Primary Health Centres of Oyo State, Nigeria. A qualitative design was employed using key informant interviews with twelve pregnant women recruited purposively using the data saturation principle. Data were analyzed using NVivo, which thematically generated two major barrier themes: healthcare factors (lack of healthcare provider support, restrictive hospital policies) and psychological factors (negative past experiences, fear of complications or death). Three facilitator themes also emerged: strong social support network (family, spouse, faith communities), healthcare providers’ attitudes (respect for beliefs, positive communication), and personal factors (divine intervention, spiritual conviction, divine protection, previous birth experiences). The findings indicate that institutional constraints and fear limit spiritual engagement, whereas social support, respectful care, and strong faith enhance it. It is concluded that integrating culturally and spiritually sensitive care into maternity services will enhance childbirth experiences and improve maternal satisfaction. The study recommends provider training and policy reform to promote faith-sensitive maternal care within safe clinical limits.