Expectant fathers’ perspectives on place of birth decisions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Expectant fathers’ perspectives on the decision of where to give birth in the context of low-risk pregnancies: a qualitative study
IRAS ID
235292
Contact name
Laura Goodwin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 1 days
Research summary
The need to improve the involvement of expectant fathers in all aspects of maternity care has been widely acknowledged at a national level. However, existing research in this area is still scarce and has not yet translated into large-scale improvements.
One important area to improve expectant fathers’ involvement relates to making decisions about where to give birth. Promoting choice within maternity services has been an increasingly important subject for research and policy. Research has shown that women do not make place of birth decisions in isolation but share them with key people around them, particularly with their partners and fathers-to-be. Therefore, the father’s involvement in such decision-making is seen as an important part of the process of promoting choice within maternity services. This is particularly important to improve the care of healthy women considered at low risk of developing complications during birth, given that their place of birth choices involve the full range of planned birth settings (home, delivery suite, and midwife-led units).
With this study we aim to better understand how place of birth decision making processes are perceived and experienced by expectant fathers. In doing so, we also aim to identify fathers’ support and information needs that can help improve services’ ability to facilitate fathers’ involvement.
To achieve that, we will conduct interviews and focus groups with around 30 expectant fathers from across two NHS Trusts in Birmingham. Data from interviews and focus groups will be thematically analysed, using the Framework Method, to produce the main findings of the study.
At the end of the study, a portfolio of recommendations will be developed to support fathers’ involvement in place of birth discussions and decisions in the context of antenatal services for low-risk women.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0164
Date of REC Opinion
7 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion