A cross-country survey of attitudes toward childbirth technologies and interventions among university students

Stoll, Kathrin; Edmonds, Joyce; Sadler, Michelle; Thomson, Gill; McAra-Couper, Judith; Swift, Emma M.; Malott, Anne; Streffing, Joana; Gross, Mechthild Maria; Downe, Soo

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	A cross-country survey of attitudes toward childbirth technologies and interventions among university students
Authors:	Stoll, Kathrin Edmonds, Joyce Sadler, Michelle Thomson, Gill McAra-Couper, Judith Swift, Emma M. Malott, Anne Streffing, Joana Gross, Mechthild Maria Downe, Soo
DOI:	10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025
Published in:	Women and Birth
Volume(Issue):	32
Issue:	3
Page(s):	231
Pages to:	239
Issue Date:	2019
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	1871-5192 1878-1799
Language:	English
Subjects:	Attitude; Birth; Survey; Technology; Young adults
Subject (DDC):	303: Social processes 618.4: Childbirth
Abstract:	Problem & aim: Cultural beliefs that equate birth technology with progress, safety and convenience contribute to widespread acceptance of childbirth technology and interventions. Little is known about attitudes towards childbirth technology and interventions among the next generation of maternity care users and whether attitudes vary by country, age, gender, childbirth fear, and other factors. Methods: Data were collected via online survey in eight countries. Students who had never had children, and who planned to have at least one child were eligible to participate. Findings: The majority of participants (n=4569) were women (79.3%), and the median age was 22 years. More than half of students agreed that birth technology makes birth easier (55.8%), protects babies from harm (49.1%) and that women have a right to choose a medically non-indicated cesarean (50.8%). Respondents who had greater acceptance of childbirth technology and interventions were from countries with higher national caesarean birth rates, reported higher levels of childbirth fear, and were more likely to report that visual media or school-based education shaped their attitudes toward birth. Positive attitudes toward childbirth technology and interventions were also associated with less confidence in knowledge of birth, and more common among younger and male respondents. Discussion/conclusion: Educational strategies to teach university students about pregnancy and birth in ways that does not frighten them and promotes critical reflection about childbirth technology are needed. This is especially true in countries with high rates of interventions that reciprocally shape culture norms, attitudes, and expectations.
URI:	http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/24093/ https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/14667
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health (IHG)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Stoll, K., Edmonds, J., Sadler, M., Thomson, G., McAra-Couper, J., Swift, E. M., Malott, A., Streffing, J., Gross, M. M., & Downe, S. (2019). A cross-country survey of attitudes toward childbirth technologies and interventions among university students. Women and Birth, 32(3), 231–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025

Stoll, K. et al. (2019) ‘A cross-country survey of attitudes toward childbirth technologies and interventions among university students’, Women and Birth, 32(3), pp. 231–239. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025.

K. Stoll et al., “A cross-country survey of attitudes toward childbirth technologies and interventions among university students,” Women and Birth, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 231–239, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025.

STOLL, Kathrin, Joyce EDMONDS, Michelle SADLER, Gill THOMSON, Judith MCARA-COUPER, Emma M. SWIFT, Anne MALOTT, Joana STREFFING, Mechthild Maria GROSS und Soo DOWNE, 2019. A cross-country survey of attitudes toward childbirth technologies and interventions among university students. Women and Birth [online]. 2019. Bd. 32, Nr. 3, S. 231–239. DOI 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025. Verfügbar unter: http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/24093/

Stoll, Kathrin, Joyce Edmonds, Michelle Sadler, Gill Thomson, Judith McAra-Couper, Emma M. Swift, Anne Malott, Joana Streffing, Mechthild Maria Gross, and Soo Downe. 2019. “A Cross-Country Survey of Attitudes toward Childbirth Technologies and Interventions among University Students.” Women and Birth 32 (3): 231–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025.

Stoll, Kathrin, et al. “A Cross-Country Survey of Attitudes toward Childbirth Technologies and Interventions among University Students.” Women and Birth, vol. 32, no. 3, 2019, pp. 231–39, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.025.