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

Committee 1992) who observed that the available choices are "often more
illusory than real. ' para 51.
On the other hand, women planning a home birth, although not informed
about the available options, were aware that they could have a home birth. Other
studies have also found that women planning a home birth are generally well
informed of the choices available (Kleiverda, Steen, Anderson et al 1990). One
explanation for the differences in knowledge of what is available might be the fact
that home birth women are generally more educated, and therefore are more likely
to read widely and discover other options. In the study, more women in the home
birth group had secondary school and college or university degrees compared to
those planning a hospital birth. The finding is corroborated by other studies
(Cohen 1982), which also found women planning a home birth to be generally
more educated (Cohen 1982; Eakins 1989; Rooks, Weatherby, Ernst et al 1989;
Schneider 1986; Soderstrom, Stewart, Kaitell et al 1990). The difference in
educational standards of women in the two groups might also explain the fact that
home birth women were able to assert their right to have a home birth, while those
planning a hospital birth just went with what was made available to them.
The thesis considered that one of the factors that might affect women's
preferences for home or hospital birth might be their awareness of what is on
offer, and the results clearly support the view. Women planning a home birth
knew that the option was available to them, and asserted their right to have a
home birth. On the other hand, those planning a hospital birth said that the home
birth option was not mentioned to them, and that they assumed they were going to
go to hospital. However, some of them said that even if they had known about the
home option they probably would still have chosen to go to hospital. The point
raised by some of the hospital group, that they probably would still have chosen
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