2.8 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
Data collection was through an interviewer-administered questionnaire.
The interviewer was the researcher and four research assistants (2
junior residents and two nurses from the antenatal clinic). The research
assistants were trained to administer the questionnaires, tackle the
questions that could arise during the interview, and strictly follow
research ethics.
The questionnaire consists of the first part, which involves the
participants’ sociodemographic characteristics. In contrast, the second
and third parts assess the awareness and desirability of parturients
regarding companionship in labour, respectively. The research tools were
pre-tested for consistency.