Date of Award
1-1-1998
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Master of Nursing
School
School of Nursing
Faculty
Faculty of Health and Human Sciences
First Supervisor
Yvonne Hauck
Second Supervisor
Dr Patricia Percival
Third Supervisor
Dr Linda Kristjanson
Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe women's perceptions of the care they received in a birth centre, compared to their previous experiences in a hospital. Australian statistics indicate that five percent of childbearing women now choose to receive care in a birth centre setting. Clinical outcomes of birth centre care are now well documented, but there is limited empirical data about women's experiences of this model of care. Seventeen women, who had recently given birth in a birth centre, and had previously experienced care in a hospital setting, were interviewed about their care experiences. Using content analysis, the primary patterns in the data were coded and categorised into the four key themes of : Beliefs about Pregnancy and Birth, Nature of the Care Relationship, Care Interactions and Care Structures. The underlying clinical issues were those relating to philosophies of care, control over childbirth, and continuity of carer. Women wanted carers who viewed birth as a natural process rather than as an illness, and who engaged in a sharing, rather than a controlling, relationship. Finally women preferred to know, and be known by their carers. These findings are important for midwives, in terms of their education and practice. They also have implications for hospital administrators, health planning agencies, and the medical profession.
Recommended Citation
Coyle, K. (1998). Women's perceptions of birth centre care: A qualitative approach. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1004