An exploration of women's expectations of and preferences for childbirth experiences : a mixed methods study
Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Childbirth experiences are important for women, their families, health professionals, and society.Outcomes for childbirth often reflect a biomedical appraisal focusing on statistical measures rather than women's own assessment of their experiences.Maternity policies are influenced by the biomedical approach because current methods of research fail to produce data that also integrates women's views.This study is a response to the marginalisation of women's childbirth experiences and their diminution due to a consistent emphasis on quantitative and reductionist forms of evidence.The research was carried out within a framework of feminist research with the particular approach of standpoint theory.The approach enabled a unique insight of women's worldviews and a critical analysis of the influences that shaped their experiences.The research design is a sequential mixed method approach which combined women's views from a qualitative perspective as a basis for the development of a quantitative instrument.The subsequent quantitative analysis added a statistical dimension, revealing the six core attributes that are important for women's childbirth experiences.The integration of the data from both phases of the study uncovered original contextually rich insights, suggesting that in the context of busy hospital settings most women value the technological help that interventions can bring, in addition to emotionally supportive care.The research revealed that interventions have become a normalised part of childbirth experiences.Most women have a medicalised belief system about childbirth and have had little exposure to models of care other than a hospital based one.Women expressed uncertainty about their own birthing abilities and embraced technology to enhance their feelings of control and safety, to alleviate pain, and to gain acceptance within the system wherein they gave birth.Other influences such as societal, social, and cultural norms influenced women's perceptions of pain technology, and intervention.
Author: Patricia Larkin
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2582336803