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Research article
Why women chose unassisted home birth in Malaysia: A qualitative study
Julia Suhaimi
Universiti Malaya
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5880-0989
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Incidences of unassisted home birthing practices have been increasing in Malaysia despite the accessibility to safe and affordable child birthing facilities. We aimed to explore the reasons for women to make such decisions.
Methods: Twelve women participated in in-depth interviews. They were recruited using a snowballing approach. The interviews were supported by a topic guide which was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and previous literature. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Women in this study described a range of birthing experiences and personal beliefs as to why they chose unassisted home birth. Four themes emerged from the interviews; i) preferred birthing experience, ii) birth is a natural process, iii) expressing autonomy and iv) faith. Such decision to birth at home unassisted was firm and steadfast despite the possible risks and complications that can occur. Giving birth is perceived to occur naturally regardless of assistance, and unassisted home birth provides the preferred environment which health facilities in Malaysia may lack. They believed that they were in control of the birth processes apart from fulfilling the spiritual beliefs.
Conclusions: Women may choose unassisted home birth to express their personal views and values, at the expense of the health risks. Apart from increasing mothers' awareness of the possible complications arising from unassisted home births, urgent efforts are needed to provide better birth experiences in healthcare facilities that resonate with the mothers’ beliefs and values.
Keywords
Homebirth; free birth; unassisted home birth; Malaysia; healthcare delivery system; qualitative.
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 12 May, 2020
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Editor assigned
On 26 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 25 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 25 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 12 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 31 Mar, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Mar, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Mar, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 16 Feb, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 07 Feb, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 21 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 08 Nov, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 08 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 05 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 04 Nov, 2019
First submitted
On 30 Oct, 2019
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Why women chose unassisted home birth in Malaysia: A qualitative study
Julia Suhaimi
Universiti Malaya
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5880-0989
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 12 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 26 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 25 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 25 Apr, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Apr, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 12 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 31 Mar, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Mar, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Mar, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 16 Feb, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 07 Feb, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 21 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 08 Nov, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 08 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 05 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 04 Nov, 2019
First submitted
On 30 Oct, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Incidences of unassisted home birthing practices have been increasing in Malaysia despite the accessibility to safe and affordable child birthing facilities. We aimed to explore the reasons for women to make such decisions.
Methods: Twelve women participated in in-depth interviews. They were recruited using a snowballing approach. The interviews were supported by a topic guide which was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and previous literature. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Women in this study described a range of birthing experiences and personal beliefs as to why they chose unassisted home birth. Four themes emerged from the interviews; i) preferred birthing experience, ii) birth is a natural process, iii) expressing autonomy and iv) faith. Such decision to birth at home unassisted was firm and steadfast despite the possible risks and complications that can occur. Giving birth is perceived to occur naturally regardless of assistance, and unassisted home birth provides the preferred environment which health facilities in Malaysia may lack. They believed that they were in control of the birth processes apart from fulfilling the spiritual beliefs.
Conclusions: Women may choose unassisted home birth to express their personal views and values, at the expense of the health risks. Apart from increasing mothers' awareness of the possible complications arising from unassisted home births, urgent efforts are needed to provide better birth experiences in healthcare facilities that resonate with the mothers’ beliefs and values.
Figure 1
Figure 2