Labor companionship in midwifery context: A concept analysis

Background: Labor companionship has been recognized as a valuable intervention by the World Health Organization to enhance the quality of reproductive care and women’s satisfaction with delivery. However, a clear definition of labor companionship is lacking, making it challenging to comprehend and operationalize this concept in clinical settings.Objectives: This study aimed to conduct a concept analysis of labor companionship in the midwifery context.Methods: The concept analysis utilized the Walker and Avant method as a framework. Nineteen publications from the period of 1996 to 2022 were collected from Scopus and ProQuest databases and Google Scholar and used in the analysis. The search employed terms such as “labor companion*,” “childbirth companion*,” “birth companion*,” “doula companion*,” “continuous support during childbirth,” and “birth companion of choice.”Results: The defining attributes of labor companionship were identified as accompanying, supporting throughout all stages of labor. Sociodemographic, cognitive, and environmental factors were categorized as the three antecedents of labor companionship, revealing three beneficiaries: governments or organizations, women and their families, and healthcare providers.Conclusion: This conceptual analysis can offer insights for midwives to enhance their understanding of labor companionship and facilitate the development of instruments. A clear understanding of labor companionship could also assist healthcare facilities in modifying policies to ensure appropriate physical space for women while respecting their privacy.