The characteristics of women who birth at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital labour ward: A study of a nationally-representative sample of 1835 pregnant women

Steel, A; Adams, J; Frawley, J; Broom, A; Sibbritt, D

The characteristics of women who birth at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital labour ward: A study of a nationally-representative sample of 1835 pregnant women

Steel, A

Adams, J

Frawley, J

Broom, A

Sibbritt, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 2015, 6 (3), pp. 132 - 137
Issue Date:: 2015-10-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Steel, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6643-9444	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Frawley, J https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6037-0140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Broom, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1258-1140	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.date.available	2015-04-12	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-10-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 2015, 6 (3), pp. 132 - 137	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1877-5756	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43593
dc.description.abstract	© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Objectives: A woman's choice of birth setting can depend on a variety of factors including her preference, availability of services and legislative environment. However, examination of the characteristics of women in relation to their birth environment has been limited in scope and design. This study presents the comparative characteristics of women who birth at home, in a birth centre or in a standard hospital setting. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of women (n = 2445) identified as pregnant or recently given birth in the 2009 survey of the "young" cohort (n = 8012) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Results: Women's birth setting was associated with a variety of factors including employment status, private health insurance, attitudes towards obstetric care, health status, use of intrapartum pain management, and adverse birth events. Conclusion: Women's choice of birth setting may be affected by factors such as government and institutional policy, personal values, and economic situation. The confluence of these factors for individual women can impact on the birth settings available to women and the corresponding choices they make. A clear understanding of these factors is important to ensure women access the most appropriate birth environment to achieve the best maternal and foetal health outcomes.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP1094765
dc.relation.ispartof	Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.srhc.2015.04.002	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Home Childbirth	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Choice Behavior	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Employment	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Birthing Centers	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Insurance, Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Obstetric Labor Complications	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pain Management	en_US
dc.title	The characteristics of women who birth at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital labour ward: A study of a nationally-representative sample of 1835 pregnant women	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	6	en_US

Abstract:

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Objectives: A woman's choice of birth setting can depend on a variety of factors including her preference, availability of services and legislative environment. However, examination of the characteristics of women in relation to their birth environment has been limited in scope and design. This study presents the comparative characteristics of women who birth at home, in a birth centre or in a standard hospital setting. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of women (n = 2445) identified as pregnant or recently given birth in the 2009 survey of the "young" cohort (n = 8012) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Results: Women's birth setting was associated with a variety of factors including employment status, private health insurance, attitudes towards obstetric care, health status, use of intrapartum pain management, and adverse birth events. Conclusion: Women's choice of birth setting may be affected by factors such as government and institutional policy, personal values, and economic situation. The confluence of these factors for individual women can impact on the birth settings available to women and the corresponding choices they make. A clear understanding of these factors is important to ensure women access the most appropriate birth environment to achieve the best maternal and foetal health outcomes.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43593