CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS OF MATERNITY CARE IN ONE HEALTH DISTRICT. (VOLUMES I AND II).
Contributors: University Of Bath (United Kingdom)
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 678
Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Available from UMI in association with The British Library.

Medical domination of the management of childbirth has resulted in maternity care in many respects indistinguishable from other acute health care provision. Major implications for the consumer of such patterns of care are identified by social science analysts as lack of control, and by consumers themselves as problems in communication with professional carers.

A number of surveys of maternity services suggest that general practitioner care may be associated with greater consumer satisfaction. However, such surveys are rarely satisfactory methodologically, do not include fathers' views, nor consider the significance of social class.

This study charts the views of a group of consumers (both mothers and fathers) from one Health District, in focussing upon a comparison of the maternity services provided by consultants or in centralised units, with those provided by general practitioners or in neighbourhood hospitals. The questionnaires used in the main postal survey were based upon an extensive exploratory study designed to identify those issues of concern to the consumer.

Analysis of the data showed an overall preference for the services provided by general practitioners or the neighbourhood hospitals, especially in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Although there were few differences in perceptions of care at the time of birth, most consumers would prefer a birth under general practitioner care, if safety permitted.

General practitioner services were associated with more personalised care which it is argued resulted in feelings of greater control for the consumer.

Both social class and gender were sources of disadvantage. Working class mothers were less well informed and enjoyed poorer relations with doctors than their middle class counterparts; while, except at the time of birth, fathers were seldom recognised as parents or consumers.

While attendance at antenatal classes offered a range of advantages to women consumers, in-patient antenatal care was associated with particular distress and powerlessness.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: B, page: 5255.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF BATH (UNITED KINGDOM), 1988.

School code: 0690.