Abstract
Background
There are 15 publicly-funded homebirth programs in Australia. Women’s access to these
programs is determined by program specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Aims
To examine women’s perception of inclusion and exclusion criteria for publicly-funded
homebirth programs in Australia and how these perceptions may influence women’s choices
and access to these programs.
Methods
A national online survey was conducted and promoted through social media networks
to women interested in homebirth in Australia. Quantitative data were analysed to
generate descriptive statistics and a content analysis was performed on qualitative
data.
Findings
A total of 830 surveys were collected. Most women were supportive of inclusion and
exclusion criteria related to social and environmental factors, although there was
ambivalence about requiring ambulance cover, not having a history of domestic violence
in the current relationship and requiring the woman to speak basic English. With regards
to obstetric factors, only a requirement for labour to commence spontaneously at term
was supported by over half of participants. All other obstetric related criteria had
over half of participants disagreeing or strongly disagreeing that they should be
used to prevent a woman from birthing at home. A desire for choice and access was
frequently mentioned in the qualitative data.
Conclusion
There is a need to address the lack of choice many women experience when pregnant
and the lack of equitable access to affordable homebirth services in Australia.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 10, 2021
Accepted:
August 19,
2021
Received in revised form:
August 13,
2021
Received:
June 13,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
