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Table 1 Characteristics of included studies. Studies listed in chronological order

From: What influences birth place preferences, choices and decision-making amongst healthy women with straightforward pregnancies in the UK? A qualitative evidence synthesis using a ‘best fit’ framework approach

 

Aim

Setting

Methods

Analysis

Options available to participants

Sample and sample characteristics

Ogden et al. (1997a and 1997b) [42, 43]

To explore the factors involved in deciding to have a home birth.

London, England

Interviews

Thematic

OU or home

Postnatal (3–5 years)

Mixed age and parity

Ogden et al. (1998) [39]

To ‘explore the experiences of women who have a contemporary commonplace hospital birth’.

London, England

In depth interviews

Thematic

OU or home (in principle)

Postnatal (within 5 years)

Multiparous women

Mansion and McGuire (1998) [28]

To explore what influences women in their choice of DOMINO birth.

Central Scotland

Interview study

Thematic

Hospital OU or DOMINO

Antenatal

n = 8 women

22–37 weeks pregnant aged 21–35. Mixed parity.

Tinkler and Quinney (1998) [48]

To explore women’s experiences of being informed and making decisions (including choice of place of birth).

England

Mixed: interviews (n = 8) and focus groups (n = 14)

Content and thematic

Choice of OU or home birth.

Antenatal and postnatal

n = 68

Diverse socio-economic status (SES), age, parity

Emslie et al. (1999) [29]

To examine the way women make choices and decisions about choice of place of birth

North -East Scotland

Interviews (longitudinal)

Grounded theory Thematic analysis

OU, AMU, FMU and home birth (although home birth discouraged)

Antenatal and postnatal follow up.

n = 20 mixed parity.

Longworth et al. (2001) [35]

To identify 'valued attributes’ of home and hospital birth for women

England (London)

Focus groups (n = 2)

Analysis not described

Home or OU

Antenatal or postnatal – booked in preceding 12 months

n = 20 women participated

No sample characteristics provided.

Cheung (2002) [40]

Identify experiences of Chinese and Scottish childbearing women in Scotland

Scotland

Interviews (longitudinal)

Comparative thematic analysis

Hospital OU or home

Antenatal and postnatal follow- up

n = 20 women (Chinese n = 10, Scottish n = 10)

Age 25–82.

Mixed parity.

Stapleton et al. (2002) [37]

To examine the use of evidence-based leaflets on informed choice in maternity services.

Wales (13 maternity units)

Observations (n = 886), field notes, interviews.

Grounded Theory thematic analysis

Home birth and OU

Antenatal and postnatal

Antenatal interviews (n = 85) Postnatal interviews (n = 78)

NB Figures relate to entire study, not limited to Choice of Place of Birth leaflet.

Theoretical sampling including diverse age, ethnicity and obstetric experiences but parity not specified.

Madi and Crow (2003) [38]

To find out how much information women have about hospital and home birth

S England

Interviews

Grounded theory thematic analysis

Home or OU

Antenatal.

n = 33 (20 planning home birth, 13 planning hospital birth)

32–42 weeks pregnant

Low risk pregnancies.

Mixed parity.

Watts et al. (2003) [47]

An evaluation of how the new midwife led service (FMU) was meeting women’s needs, from the service user perspective.

England (rural)

Unstructured interviews, observations and documentary research

Thematic analysis

Home, FMU or OU

Postnatal (within 1 year)

n = 8 Multiparous, low risk women

Andrews (2004) [33]

Explore women’s experience of home birth

S Wales

Interviews

Phenomenological thematic analysis

Hospital OU or home

Postnatal (up to 6 m)

n = 8

Mixed parity

Lavender and Chapple (2005) [41]

Identify models of care that meet the needs of women and offer choice of place of birth.

England

Survey, 71% response rate.

Only responses to open questions within survey included.

Thematic analysis

Hospital OU, AMU, FMU, Home

(National survey, options varied depending on area where participant lived).

Antenatal (mean 29 weeks)

n = 2071 women who used one of 12 maternity units in England

Mixed parity

mean age 29,

mostly white/English speaking, diverse SES

Shaw and Kitzinger (2005) [32]

To document the obstacles women encounter in trying to exercise their right to choose to give birth at home.

UK

Documentary data.

Call transcripts and emails to the Home Birth helpline.

Content and thematic analysis

Hospital OU – home birth was an option but callers had experienced barriers to this.

n = 56 callers to Home Birth helpline, of whom n = 54 women calling on their own behalf. No other demographic data was gathered.

Barber et al. (2006) [34]

Identify factors that influence women’s decisions about where to give birth

S England

Focus groups (n = 5)

Content and thematic analysis

Hospital OU, FMU or home

Pregnant women (29–40 weeks). n = 20 women (Mixed parity)

Walsh (2006) [46]

Ethnographic exploration of culture, beliefs, values, customs and practices in FMU.

England (Midlands)

Participant observation (n = 15, 6–10 h),interviews with women (n = 30, 5 of whom were observed)

Thematic analysis

FMU or OU, home.

Antenatal and postnatal

(around 3 m)

n = 40

Mixed parity.

Jomeen (2007) [31]

To explore and advance the understanding of maternity care choice through women’s experiences.

North England

Longitudinal narrative interviews

Thematic analysis

OU, home birth, FMU (new).

Antenatal and postnatal follow up.

n = 10 low risk women

Parity not specified.

Aged 18 or older.

Houghton et al. (2008) [8]

To explore the rationale behind women’s choice of place of birth and the influences on their decision-making.

NW England

Observations and semi-structured interviews

Thematic analysis

OU, home birth, AMU ('integrated MLU')

Antenatal and postnatal follow up

n = 30

Mixed parity

aged 18–39, 80% married/cohabiting, diverse SES

Pitchforth et al. (2008) [36]

To explore women’s perceptions of different models of care and willingness to make ‘trade-offs’ in remote and rural areas.

Scotland Remote & rural

Focus groups (n = 8, range 4–7 participants)

Thematic analysis

OU, remote FMU or home

Postnatal women (1 m – 7 years) n = 47 participants

Aged 24–45

Parous.

Pitchforth et al. (2009) [9]

To explore women’s perceptions of “choice”

Scotland Remote & rural

Focus groups (n = 12, range 4–9 participants)

Thematic analysis

OU, remote FMU or home

Postnatal (within 4 years)

n = 70

Mixed parity.

McCutcheon and Brown (2012) [44]

To add to the body of knowledge on place of birth and home birth experiences.

England

Interview study

Thematic analysis

Hospital OU or home

Postnatal

Women (n = 9) aged 27–78 who had given birth at home at least once (n = 7) or only in hospital (n = 2).

Diverse ethnicity.

Newburn (2012) [45]

To examine lived experiences in a new birth centre (AMU)

England

Ethnography (participant observation)

Thematic analysis

AMU home or OU

Antenatal (observation)

and postnatal (interviews)

Postnatal women (n = 11)

Mixed SES, ethnically diverse. Parity not clear, but includes multiparous women.

Coxon et al. (2014) [10]

To understand better what accounts for birth place preferences.

S England

Interviews (longitudinal)

Narrative analysis (thematic and structural)

Hospital OU and home (all); AMU and/or FMU depending on local services.

Antenatal with end of pregnancy follow up.

n = 41 women

Aged 19 to 42. Mixed parity, mixed ethnicity, diverse SES, mixed risk

Coxon et al. (2015) [30]

To explore the influence of pregnancy and birth experiences on planned place of birth in future pregnancies

S England

Interviews (longitudinal)

Narrative analysis (thematic and structural)

Hospital OU and home (all); AMU and/or FMU depending on local services.

Antenatal with postnatal follow up

n = 41 women

Aged 19 to 42. Mixed parity, mixed ethnicity, diverse SES, mixed risk