Women's Decision-Making And Factors Affecting Their Choice Of ...

Table 9: Themes expressed by women in both groups
Theme Home (n=13) Hospital (n=20)
Comfortable/relaxed 10 (77%) 1 (5%)
Convenience 7 (54%) 2 (10%)
Emergencies attended faster 2 (15%) 14 (70%)
First baby best in hospital 8 (62%) 16 (80%)
Good experience/easy birth 6 (46%) 4 (20%)
Influence of others 8 (62%) 4 (20%)
Information from others and
reading
5 (38%) 11(55)
No pain relief 2 (15%) 3 (15%)
Open mind about pain relief 6 (46%) 9 (45%)
Partner against 1 (8%) 3 (15%)
Partner involvement in choice 13 (100%) 2 (10%)
Pregnancy complications 5 (38%) 6 (30%)
Process uncertain 8 (62%) 16 (80%)
Safety 8 (62%) 16 (80%)
Short labour 8 (62%) 1 (5%)
Supportive midwife 6 (46%) 2 (10%)
Table 10 presents themes denoting what women planning a home birth
found to be negative about the hospital. For example, 77% of the home group felt
that the hospital was an alien environment, and 69% said that there is shortage of
staff in the hospital, resulting in one being left unattended for long periods. Other
negative factors expressed are the fact that one has to change rooms, that the
hospital is a clinical environment that the care is impersonal, that one is more
likely to have interventions, that it is noisy, there is poor hygiene, and that there
are routines in the hospital.
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