{
  "abstract": "Introduction\n\nWomen's childbirth experiences provide information for improving the quality of maternity care. This study explored opportunities and challenges related to achieving a positive childbirth experience among women giving birth in health facilities in the WHO-defined South-East Asia Region.Methods\n\nAn integrative review was conducted following the five stages described by Whittemore and Knafl. PubMed and CINAHL were searched, supplemented by reference list screening, for studies published in English between 2012 and 2023. Studies from the WHO-defined South-East Asia Region focusing on women's experiences of facility-based childbirth were included. Methodological quality was assessed using Pluye's Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool, and data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.Results\n\nA total of 2886 records were identified. After duplicate removal and screening, 104 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 26 studies were included. The overarching theme was: 'Women prioritize survival over their childbirth experiences when giving birth in health facilities'. Three generic categories were identified: Quality of care, Emotional and physical support, and Adherence to women's rights principles. Positive experiences were associated with competent care providers, supportive companionship, effective communication, and respectful care. Challenges included poor communication, limited emotional support, inadequate resources, and experiences of mistreatment and discrimination.Conclusions\n\nWomen prioritized the survival of themselves and their newborns above their childbirth experiences. Positive childbirth experiences may be supported by high-quality care, effective communication, companionship during labor and birth, and respectful maternity care. Future research should explore strategies to strengthen respectful maternity care, emotional support, and evidence-based practices across maternity care settings.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.",
    "Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden."
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Evanjalin Dhamirah Arulpragassam"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Meetha Kalcik"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Preet Phull"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Malin Bogren"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kerstin Erlandsson",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6910-7047"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lise-Lotte Franklin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Catrin Borneskog"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/38bxxvnty6f5c.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.18332/ejm/240344",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13690049",
  "id": "38bxxvnty6f5c",
  "issns": [
    "2585-2906"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923807",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2729|Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223184752",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13690049?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13690049",
  "pmid": "42923807",
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/38bxxvnty6f5c.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:33Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42923807",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923807"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2729|Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions",
      "subfield": "reproductive-child"
    }
  ],
  "title": "From survival to positive childbirth experiences: An integrative review of facility-based maternity care in South-East Asia.",
  "title_text": "From survival to positive childbirth experiences: An integrative review of facility-based maternity care in South-East Asia.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/38bxxvnty6f5c",
  "venue": "European journal of midwifery",
  "versions": []
}