Fathers’ influence on women’s decision making during labour and birth

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Fathers’ involvement in and influence on women’s decision making during labour and birth

• IRAS ID

  142196

• Contact name

  Mary K. Longworth

• Contact email

  mary.longworth@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Manchester

• Research summary

  A review of the literature has found that the majority of research studies examining fathers’ role in labour have concentrated on fathers’ experiences during labour. There are, however, a limited number of studies that have examined fathers’ influence on decision making during labour and birth. The aim of this study is to explore the influences that fathers have on their partners’ decision making during labour and birth. Men and women who are due to birth their baby in one maternity unit in Wales, within a selected 12 month period, will be invited to participate in the study. Up to 10 men and their partners will be selected to take part in the study. The study will consist of two phases: observation of men and their partners during labour and birth and interviews with the same men and their partners up to 6 weeks post-delivery.
  The couple will be given a study flyer by the community midwife after 32 weeks of pregnancy at their antenatal appointment. All midwives in the local maternity unit will be also be given a study flyer. Women with their partners who are admitted to labour ward in early labour, will be recruited for both phases of the study. Permission will be gained from the midwife caring for the couple who will then approach the couple to obtain their permission to be approached by the researcher. If the couple agree, the researcher will provide the couple with further information about the study, and if they agree to participate, written consent will be obtained prior to the observation. The researcher will observe participants during labour and birth and field notes will be taken. In the second phase, following confirmation of consent, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with men and their partners separately. These interviews will take place 4-6 weeks following the birth.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/SC/0657

• Date of REC Opinion

  20 Dec 2013

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion