Why do women choose homebirth in Australia? : a national survey

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21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: In Australia there have been regulatory and insurance changes negatively affecting homebirth. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics, needs and experiences of women choosing to have a homebirth in Australia. Methods: A national survey was conducted and promoted through social media networks to women who have planned a homebirth in Australia. Data were analysed to generate descriptive statistics. Findings: 1681 surveys were analysed. The majority of women indicated a preference to give birth at home with a registered midwife. However, if a midwife was not available, half of the respondents indicated they would give birth without a registered midwife (freebirth) or find an unregistered birthworker. A further 30% said they would plan a hospital or birth centre birth. In choosing homebirth, women disclosed that they wanted to avoid specific medical interventions and the medicalised hospital environment. Nearly 60% of women reported at least one risk factor that would have excluded them from a publicly funded homebirth programme. Many women described their previous hospital experience as traumatic (32%) and in some cases, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, 6%). Only 5% of women who reported on their homebirth experience considered it to be traumatic (PTSD, 1%). The majority of these were associated with how they were treated when transferred to hospital in labour. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to expand homebirth options in Australia and humanise mainstream maternity care. A potential rise in freebirth may be the consequences of inaction.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)396-404
Number of pages9
JournalWomen and Birth
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Australian College of Midwives

Keywords

  • Australia
  • government policy
  • homebirth
  • women

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