Factors affecting readiness for discharge and perceived social support after childbirth

Aims and objectives To evaluate the factors affecting readiness for discharge and perceived social support after childbirth. Background Many women still die during and following pregnancy and childbirth. Both early and late discharges are conflicting issues in the world. Evaluation of the readiness for discharge in terms of patient safety, satisfaction, physical, emotional, psychological and social aspects is important. Design Descriptive and cross‐sectional study. Methods The study was carried out with 610 women in the early postpartum period at two hospitals in Turkey between October 2014–March 2015 using Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form and Multidimensional Scale of perceived social support. Results The mean scores for Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form and Multidimensional Scale of perceived social support were found as 163.5 (SD: 34.1) and 64.2 (SD: 18.8), respectively. Women who were discharged from Merkezefendi Hospital, women who had one child or one pregnancy and women or baby who experienced complication during or after birth had lower scores on Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form. Women who received information about the postpartum period had significantly higher scores on the total Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form than women did not (165.5 ± 33.8 vs 151.1 ± 36.1). Personal status, knowledge and total score of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form were significantly higher in women who were ready for discharge. Conclusions Findings provide vital information that can inform nursing clinical practice, especially related to readiness for discharge protocols and developing strategies for women, who had low sociodemographic backgrounds, did not have any information about postpartum period and were not ready for discharge. Relevance to Clinical Practice The mother and family face with postpartum difficulties on their own when early discharge takes place. Providing postpartum care services plays an important role for maternal–child health.