Exploring Homebirth Experience
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Women and Maternity Care Providers’ Experiences and Perceptions of Planned Home Birth Service Provision in Northern Ireland
IRAS ID
246711
Contact name
Patricia Gillen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore the views and experiences of women and maternity health care professionals about planning a Homebirth in Northern Ireland(NI). The NI Maternity Strategy (2012) supports women in their choice of place of birth and research also highlights Homebirth as a safe option and e for women with straightforward pregnancies. All women and maternity care professionals who have an interest in homebirth are eligible to take part in the study. This is a two phase study with surveys in phase one and Focus Groups in phase two. The surveys will take 15 and 20 minutes to complete (women and Maternity Health Care Providers)and contain a mixture of closed and open ended questions which will be hosted on an online platform (Qualtrics). This will facilitate easy access from computers or mobile devices and will protect anonymity of participants. A survey link will be circulated via social media to women and maternity healthcare professionals with an interest in planning Homebirth in Northern Ireland. Healthcare professionals will also be sent an email link to their work email address through their Manager. The Participant Information Sheet is enclosed at the beginning of the questionnaire and completion of the survey will be taken as consent. On completion of the survey, all participants will be asked to volunteer to take part in face to face focus groups by leaving a contact email or if wishing not to be linked with their questionnaire responses, to send an email to the CI. The focus groups will be women only and healthcare provider only in order to encourage discussion and debate. The focus groups will be recorded. The survey questions will be analysed using SPSS and the open ended questions will be thematically analysed. The focus group recordings will be transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0162
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion