J Korean Matern Child Health .  2025 Oct;29(4):218-227. 10.21896/jkmch.2025.29.4.218.

A Comparative Study on Satisfaction of Women Giving Births in Midwifery Birthing Centers and Hospitals

• Kim BY
• Lee SH
• Lee SO

• KMID: 2573423
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jkmch.2025.29.4.218

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the obstetric characteristics of women who gave birth at midwifery birth centers and hospitals, and to compare childbirth satisfaction based on the place of delivery and the choice of delivery method.
Methods
This study employed a comparative survey design. Data were collected from July 5 to July 19, 2022. The participants comprised 124 women in total: 60 who had given birth at midwifery birth centers and 64 who had delivered at hospitals within the past year. Data were collected through an online questionnaire.
Results
There were significant differences between women who gave birth at midwifery birthing centers and those who gave birth in hospitals in terms of the number of deliveries, number of children, overall childbirth satisfaction, childbirth methods, birth method decision-making, initiation of breastfeeding after childbirth, and breastfeeding duration. Women who gave birth at a midwifery birth center had significantly higher childbirth satisfaction than women who gave birth at a hospital. Women who gave birth at a midwifery birth center showed a significant difference in childbirth satisfaction when they were the ones making the decision about the method of delivery.
Conclusion
This study confirmed that overall childbirth satisfaction and birth satisfaction were significantly higher when women chose their own birth method and gave birth naturally at a midwifery birth center.

Keyword

Birth satisfaction, Midwifery, Natural childbirth