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

Chapter 2: Risk perception
Chapter overview
The previous chapter discussed successive government reports that led to
the move from home to hospital deliveries for all women (Department of Health
and Social Security 1970; House of Commons Social Services Committee 1980;
Ministry of Health 1959). It then went on to illustrate how the department of
health has revised its view on maternity care and is now recommending a woman
centred maternity service (Department of Health 1993b; House of Commons
Health Committee 1992). With the revised position, the emphasis is on
information giving and choice during childbirth.
Chapter 2 discusses risk perception in general, and then tries to apply the
principles to childbirth, which might explain the differences in women's
perceptions of the childbirth process and how they might lead to differences in
choice of place of birth. The chapter starts by recalling the NHS policy on
maternity care changes over the years, and how this might be a factor in the
situation of place of birth today. A brief definition of the concepts of risk and
perception, and how the concept of risk perception developed follows. Some
approaches to the study of risk, such as behavioural decision theory, prospect
theory, and the precaution adoption process, are also discussed. The chapter
closes with a discussion of some risk perception studies, and assesses their
relevance to childbirth.
Introduction and definitions
The National Health Service view on maternity care in general, and place
of birth in particular, from the end of the 1950's until 1970 considered the hospital
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