Maternity services: the consumer's view.
- 1 April 1986
- journal article
- Vol. 36 (285), 157-60
Abstract
Findings are reported from a study designed to compare consumer perception of a range of maternity provision. Detailed exploratory work was followed by a pilot study and a postal survey to which 562 mothers responded. An analysis of the data indicated a strong preference for the antenatal and postnatal services provided by general practitioners or neighbourhood hospitals. Although the ratings given to all hospitals for care during labour and delivery were broadly similar, the majority of mothers would prefer a delivery under general practitioner care where considerations of safety permit. Important characteristics of the preferred services are accessibility, continuity, personalized and small-scale care, and recognition of childbirth as a life event. The desirability of retaining a range of services is discussed.This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Contribution of isolated general practitioner maternity units.BMJ, 1984
- Effect of scientific obstetrics on perinatal mortality.1981
- Perinatal health services: an immodest proposal.BMJ, 1980
- Theoretical and methodological issues in sociological studies of consumer satisfaction with medical care.1978
- The function of the professional's affective behavior in client satisfaction: a revised approach to social interaction theory.1976