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.