A Survey of University Students' Preferences for Midwifery Care and Community Birth Options in 8 High-Income Countries.

Introduction: Midwifery care is associated with positive birth outcomes, access to community birth options, and judicious use of interventions. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare maternity care preferences of university students across a range of maternity care systems and to explore whether preferences align with evidence-based recommendations and options available.

Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was completed in 2014 and 2015 by a convenience sample of university students in 8 high-income countries across 4 continents (N = 4569).

Preference for cesarean section in young nulligravid women in eight OECD countries and implications for reproductive health education.

Background: Efforts to reduce unnecessary Cesarean sections (CS) in high and middle income countries have focused on changing hospital cultures and policies, care provider attitudes and behaviors, and increasing women's knowledge about the benefits of vaginal birth. These strategies have been largely ineffective. Despite evidence that women have well-developed preferences for mode of delivery prior to conceiving their first child, few studies and no interventions have targeted the next generation of maternity care consumers.

Association between childbirth attitudes and fear on birth preferences of a future generation of Australian parents.

Background: The reality of childbirth fear is recognised for expectant parents but we lack knowledge about the childbirth attitudes of the next generation of Australian parents.

Aim: Examination of adults' attitudes toward childbirth including influencing contributing factors, fear scores, birth preferences and reasons for this preference.

Methods: A cross-sectional online study was conducted with 654 Western Australian students attending one tertiary institution.

Home or hospital? Midwife or physician? Preferences for maternity care provider and place of birth among Western Australian students.

Background: Australian caesarean birth rates have exceeded 30% in most states and are approaching 45%, on average, in private hospitals. Australian midwifery practice occurs almost exclusively in hospitals; less than 3% of women deliver at home or in birthing centres. It is unclear whether the trend towards hospital-based, high interventionist birth reflects preferences of the next generation of maternity care consumers.

Childbirth education and obstetric interventions among low-risk canadian women: is there a connection?

The objective of this study was to examine the associations between attendance at childbirth education classes and maternal characteristics (age, income, educational level, single parent status), maternal psychological states (fear of birth, anxiety), rates of obstetric interventions, and breastfeeding initiation. Between women's 35th and 39th weeks of gestation, we collected survey data about their childbirth fear, anxiety, attendance at childbirth education classes, choice of health-care provider, and expectations for interventions; we then linked women's responses (n = 624) to their intrapartum records obtained through Perinatal Services British Columbia. Older, more educated, and nulliparous women were more likely to attend childbirth education classes than younger, less educated, and multiparous women.