Karey Wilson
Department of Psychology
401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor, ON Canada N9B 3P4
(519) 253-3000 ext. 4704
Department of Psychology
401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor, ON Canada N9B 3P4
(519) 253-3000 ext. 4704
© Copyright 2012
University of Windsor
Study Results: Predicting Use of and Satisfaction With a Midwife or Obstetrician Birth Attendant
Birth attendants play an important role in women’s pregnancy and childbirth experiences. In this study, several individual difference variables thought to be related to type of birth attendant chosen and satisfaction with birth attendant were investigated. A sample of 142 pregnant women with either a midwife (N=87) or obstetrician (N=55) was recruited from four provinces where midwifery is covered under provincial health insurance to complete an online survey. The survey contained measures of personality, natural and medical birth philosophy, preferred and perceived relational style of healthcare professional, and satisfaction with birth attendant. The constructs of medical and natural birth philosophy were measured via unique scales that were developed and validated for the purposes of this study. Logistic regression analysis found that midwife group membership was predicted by natural birth philosophy. Multiple regression analysis revealed that satisfaction in the midwife group was predicted by natural birth philosophy, and that satisfaction in the obstetrician group was predicted by health self-efficacy. This study investigated novel concepts in birth attendant choice and satisfaction. In particular, the importance of natural birth philosophy in birth attendant choice and in satisfaction for the midwife group deserves further investigation. Implications for matching women’s degree of natural birth philosophy with the appropriate maternity care provider (a higher natural birth philosophy will lead to higher satisfaction if a woman chooses a midwife), as well as matching her degree of health self-efficacy (a higher health self-efficacy will lead to higher satisfaction if a woman chooses an obstetrician) are suggested.