Water Birth: The Experiences and Perceptions of Childbirth Health Care Professionals in Alberta Hospitals
Date
2020-01-15
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Abstract
The differences between the medical and midwifery models of childbirth challenge whether the medical model of childbirth represents the best standard of care for women. The introduction and progression of increased access of midwifery services in Alberta has led to water birth becoming more accessible. Water birth, is currently taking place in hospitals in Alberta with claims from midwifery clinics that over 70% of their mothers have given birth in water (Birth Partnership Midwives, n. d.). Although several studies have been conducted regarding patient perspectives surrounding this practice, very little research has been carried out to investigate the perceptions and experiences of childbirth health care professionals (HCPs) who either actively participate in water birth or are exposed to water birth in their work site. A quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive research study design in the form of a cross-sectional online survey was used to gain a better understanding of the level of support that exists for this practice within the province and explore the overall perceptions and experiences of childbirth HCPs in terms of perceived benefits, risks and barriers toward water birth. Respondents comprised 214 registered nurses, 38 registered midwives, 41 physicians, and 11 obstetricians (N=304). Results showed that childbirth HCPs had a positive level of support for water birth as a practice in Alberta. A significant difference in support levels between the different HCP groups was noted, except for the physician-obstetrician pair. Childbirth HCPs generally perceived high benefits, but also high barriers, high maternal risk, and high other risk associated with water birth. Attitudes toward neonatal risk were more ambiguous. More research is needed to better understand what underlying factors impact the perception of water birth benefits, risks, and barriers to skew either more negatively or more positively. The future of water birth depends not only on more research, but on the beliefs and experiences of the people involved in the birthing process, which includes not only all varieties of childbirth HCPs and women experiencing childbirth, but also other roles within the health care system that impact the delivery of patient care (i.e., administrators, patients, and policy makers).
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water birth, waterbirth, underwater birth, childbirth, perceptions, experiences, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, health care professional, health care provider
Citation
Mercredi, A. (2020). Water Birth: The Experiences and Perceptions of Childbirth Health Care Professionals in Alberta Hospitals (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.