TY - JOUR
T1 - What women want
T2 - Exploring pregnant women's preferences for alternative models of maternity care
AU - Fawsitt, Christopher Godfrey
AU - Bourke, Jane
AU - Lutomski, Jennifer E.
AU - Meaney, Sarah
AU - McElroy, Brendan
AU - Murphy, Rosemary
AU - Greene, Richard Anthony
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Depending on obstetric risk, maternity care may be provided in one of two locations at hospital level: a consultant-led unit (CLU) or a midwifery-led unit (MLU). Care in a MLU is sparsely provided in Ireland, comprising as few as two units out of a total 21 maternity units. Given its potential for greater efficiencies of care and cost-savings for the state, there has been an increased interest to expand MLUs in Ireland. Yet, very little is known about women's preferences for midwifery-led care, and whether they would utilise this service when presented with the choice of delivering in a CLU or MLU. This study seeks to involve women in the future planning of maternity care by investigating their preferences for care and subsequent motivations when choosing place of birth. Qualitative research is undertaken to explore maternal preferences for these different models of care. Women only revealed a preference for the MLU when co-located with a CLU due to its close proximity to medical services. However, the results suggest women do not have a clear preference for either model of care, but rather a hybrid model of care which encompasses features of both consultant- and midwifery-led care.
AB - Depending on obstetric risk, maternity care may be provided in one of two locations at hospital level: a consultant-led unit (CLU) or a midwifery-led unit (MLU). Care in a MLU is sparsely provided in Ireland, comprising as few as two units out of a total 21 maternity units. Given its potential for greater efficiencies of care and cost-savings for the state, there has been an increased interest to expand MLUs in Ireland. Yet, very little is known about women's preferences for midwifery-led care, and whether they would utilise this service when presented with the choice of delivering in a CLU or MLU. This study seeks to involve women in the future planning of maternity care by investigating their preferences for care and subsequent motivations when choosing place of birth. Qualitative research is undertaken to explore maternal preferences for these different models of care. Women only revealed a preference for the MLU when co-located with a CLU due to its close proximity to medical services. However, the results suggest women do not have a clear preference for either model of care, but rather a hybrid model of care which encompasses features of both consultant- and midwifery-led care.
KW - Consultant-led unit
KW - Midwifery-led unit
KW - Thematic analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85006515615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.10.010
DO - 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.10.010
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 27884492
AN - SCOPUS:85006515615
SN - 0168-8510
VL - 121
SP - 66
EP - 74
JO - Health Policy
JF - Health Policy
IS - 1
ER -