thank you for the responses so far
Just in case anyone is wary about giving out their email address, I will copy the questionnaire out here and if you would like to take part then you can copy and paste it into a PM.
Birth Choices Questionnaire
As part of my Access to Higher Education course I am conducting research into the choices made about giving birth. I would be very grateful if you could spare a few minutes of your time to complete this short questionnaire. It is anonymous and the information you provide is confidential. You have the right to withdraw at any point up until submission.
Please highlight one answer to each question in a different colour or by underlining, unless otherwise stated.
1. What is your gender?
Male
Female
Prefer not to say
2. Which age group are you in?
18 25
26 35
36 45
46 55
56 65
66 75
76 85
86 and over
3. Have you or your partner ever given birth?
Yes, I have given birth
Yes, my partner has given birth
No, but I plan to have children - Please go to question 8
No, I do not plan to have children - Please go to question 11
4. Which of the following options applies to where you or your partner gave birth?
Please indicate whether this was a 1st 2nd 3rd 4th birth or more by highlighting or writing in the appropriate number
Planned to give birth at home and gave birth at home 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...th
Planned to give birth in hospital and gave birth in hospital 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...th
Planned to give birth at home but gave birth in hospital 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...th
Planned to give birth in hospital but gave birth at home 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...th
Did not have a choice over where to give birth 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...th
Other please specify..... 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ...th
5. What does having a safe birth mean to you?
Please place the following 4 options in rank order of which you feel are the most important. 1 being most important and 4 being the least important
.. Having competent, qualified midwives attend
.. Having immediate access to emergency hospital facilities
.. Being able to have pain relief, such as an epidural
.. Having uninterrupted and continuous emotional and physical support
6. If you or your partner have given birth at home and in a hospital, which did you feel was a safer experience?
Please highlight one answer and explain your choice
Both felt safe
Neither felt safe
Not applicable
Giving birth at home was safer
Giving birth in hospital was safer
This is because......
7. If you or your partner did not have a choice of where you could give birth, which of the following options would you have considered to be the safest?
Please highlight one answer and explain your choice
Hospital
Home Birth
Midwifery led unit
Not applicable
This is because......
8. If you or your partner have given birth in hospital by choice or want to give birth in hospital, what were / are the reasons for this decision?
Please highlight all that apply
Safety of self and baby
Having medical staff / Doctors nearby
Never considered another option
Use of hospital equipment if needed
Not applicable
Other Please specify.....
9. If you or your partner have given birth at home by choice or want to give birth at home, what were / are your reasons for this decision?
Please highlight all that apply
Safety of self and baby
Having one-to-one care from a midwife
Comfort / privacy of own home
Not being separated from friends/ family
Not applicable
Other Please specify.....
10. Did any of the following factors influence any of your decisions about where you or your partner gave birth or would like to give birth?
Please highlight all that apply
Opinions of friends / family / colleagues
Advice from a midwife or Doctor
Film or Television footage depicting birth
Internet chat rooms / websites
Nothing influenced the decision
Other Please specify.....
11. Which of the following words do you associate with home and hospital birth?
Please highlight all that apply
Home birth:
Safe
Dangerous
Natural
Risky
None of these
Other Please specify.....
Hospital birth:
Safe
Dangerous
Natural
Risky
None of these
Other Please specify.....
12. Which one of the following statements best describes your feelings about birth?
It is not safe for women to give birth at home
It is safe for women to give birth at home if a midwife agrees
Giving birth in hospital is safer than giving birth at home
None of the above
Thank you for your time
