Factors influencing choice in birth place-An exploration of the views of women, their partners and professionals

Background. Despite initiatives supporting the concept of choice of birth place for women, the majority of women in the UK continue to give birth in a hospital environment. Attn. To explore women's views and identify influences upon women's decisions regarding birth place. 

Method. A qualitative study of women's, their partners' and professionals' views on birth place. Questionnaires, non-participant observation and in-depth interviews were utilised. A total of 50 women and their partners, residing in an urban area in the northwest of England were recruited at 12 weeks' gestation and followed up at 34 weeks and postnatally. A total of 12 midwives, 15 GPs and nine obstetricians practising in the surrounding area were interviewed. This paper reports the main qualitative findings. 

Results. Three main themes emerged from the data: protection, maintaining the status quo and fatalism. 

Conclusions. Choice in birth place was viewed as important by women and professionals. Despite this, women and professionals assumed birth would take place in the hospital environment. Women and professionals felt more at ease when birth occurred in the hospital setting and perceived it to be a safer environment. There was a fatalistic attitude towards the birth process and an acceptance of the use of intervention around the time of birth that strongly influenced women's decisions to give birth in a hospital setting. Recommendation. Accurate information must be provided and current misconceptions addressed if women are truly to engage in birth place discussions. Professionals should be encouraged to reflect on current evidence and be more aware of how their own biases influence the provision of real choice in birth place to women.