Supportive Care During Childbirth in Syrian Migrant Women

September 21, 2026 updated by: Özlem KOÇ, Tarsus University

Comparison of Childbirth Satisfaction, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, and Perceived Stress in Syrian Migrant Women Receiving and Not Receiving Supportive Care During Childbirth

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of structured supportive midwifery care provided during labor on childbirth satisfaction, breastfeeding success, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and perceived stress among Syrian migrant women. A total of 100 eligible women admitted to the delivery unit of Yuregir State Hospital in Adana, Türkiye, will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or the control group. Women in the intervention group will receive structured supportive midwifery care in addition to routine hospital care, whereas women in the control group will receive routine maternity care. The supportive care intervention will include physical support, emotional support, informational and communication support, and advocacy throughout labor. Outcomes will be assessed using validated measurement tools during the childbirth and early postpartum periods.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is designed as a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. The study population will consist of Syrian migrant women admitted in active labor to the Delivery Unit of Yuregir State Hospital in Adana, Türkiye, who meet the eligibility criteria and provide written informed consent.

A total of 100 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group (n=50) or control group (n=50). A variable block randomization procedure using block sizes of 4 and 6 will be used. Allocation concealment will be maintained using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes.

Participants assigned to the intervention group will receive structured supportive midwifery care provided by the researcher midwife throughout labor in addition to routine hospital care. The intervention consists of four main components: physical support, emotional support, informational and communication support, and advocacy. Physical support includes measures such as mobilization, position changes, breathing and relaxation techniques, massage, sacral pressure, touch, and other comfort measures according to the woman's needs. Emotional support includes continuous presence, reassurance, encouragement, empathetic communication, and respect for privacy. Informational support includes explanations about the labor process, procedures, breathing and pushing techniques, and early postpartum and breastfeeding education. Advocacy focuses on supporting women's preferences, participation in decision-making, privacy, and communication with healthcare professionals.

Participants assigned to the control group will receive the routine labor and postpartum care provided by the hospital without the additional structured supportive care intervention delivered by the researcher.

Study outcomes include childbirth satisfaction, breastfeeding success assessed using the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy, and perceived stress. Data will be collected at predefined time points from the beginning of labor through the first 24 hours postpartum.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Syrian migrant women admitted to the Delivery Unit of Adana Yüreğir State Hospital due to labor.
  • Aged 18 years or older.
  • Gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks.
  • Singleton, live pregnancy.
  • Fetus in cephalic presentation.
  • Spontaneous vaginal labor initiated and in the active phase of labor.
  • Able to communicate in Arabic or Turkish at a level sufficient to understand the data collection instruments and the intervention to be applied.
  • Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study and providing informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having a planned (elective) cesarean delivery decision at the time of admission.
  • Having an obstetric condition contraindicating vaginal delivery.
  • Having a high-risk pregnancy or labor condition, including severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, placenta previa, or placental abruption.
  • Multiple pregnancy.
  • Intrauterine fetal death or a major fetal anomaly incompatible with life.
  • Having a maternal or fetal clinical condition requiring emergency obstetric intervention at the time of admission for labor.
  • Having a cognitive impairment or severe psychiatric condition that would prevent participation, communication, or the informed consent process.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Structured Supportive Midwifery Care

Participants assigned to this arm will receive structured supportive midwifery care provided by the researcher midwife throughout labor in addition to routine hospital care. Supportive care includes physical support, emotional support, informational and communication support, and advocacy.

Structured supportive midwifery care will be provided by the researcher midwife throughout labor in addition to routine hospital care. The intervention consists of four components: physical support, emotional support, informational and communication support, and advocacy. Physical support includes mobilization, position changes, breathing and relaxation techniques, massage, sacral pressure, touch, and comfort measures according to the woman's needs. Emotional support includes continuous presence, reassurance, encouragement, empathetic communication, and respect for privacy. Informational and communication support includes explanations about the labor process and procedures, guidance on breathing and pushing techniques, and early postpartum and breastfeeding education. Advocacy includes supporting the woman's preferences, participation in decision-making, privacy, and communication with healthcare professionals.

Active Comparator: Routine Care

Participants assigned to this arm will receive the routine labor and postpartum care provided by Yuregir State Hospital. No additional structured supportive midwifery care will be provided by the researcher.

Structured supportive midwifery care will be provided by the researcher midwife throughout labor in addition to routine hospital care. The intervention consists of four components: physical support, emotional support, informational and communication support, and advocacy. Physical support includes mobilization, position changes, breathing and relaxation techniques, massage, sacral pressure, touch, and comfort measures according to the woman's needs. Emotional support includes continuous presence, reassurance, encouragement, empathetic communication, and respect for privacy. Informational and communication support includes explanations about the labor process and procedures, guidance on breathing and pushing techniques, and early postpartum and breastfeeding education. Advocacy includes supporting the woman's preferences, participation in decision-making, privacy, and communication with healthcare professionals.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Childbirth Satisfaction
Time Frame: At 24 hours postpartum

Childbirth satisfaction will be assessed using the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale (MCSRS). The scale consists of 34 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). The total score ranges from 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with the childbirth experience.

At 24 hours postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Özlem KOÇ, Tarsus University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 21, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FKECE-RCT-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.