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Is there a 'typical' consumer of obstetric services?
1Southampton Business School, Southampton Institute, England. Julie.Tinson@solent.ac.uk
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
|November 15, 2000
Summary
Understanding maternity service users is key to improving care. Research shows both first-time mothers (primigravidae) and mothers with previous births (multiparous) may cede some decision-making to healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Maternal Health
- Healthcare Services Research
- Consumer Behavior in Healthcare
Background:
- Maternity service experiences vary significantly based on factors like place of birth, antenatal care, and postnatal support.
- Effective service provision requires responsiveness to consumer needs within the current healthcare environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize users of maternity services to better understand their needs.
- To explore information access and utilization among different user groups.
Main Methods:
- The study examined primigravidae (first-time mothers) and multiparous (mothers with previous births) users of maternity services.
- Investigated information access, information use, and the influence of referent groups.
- Developed sub-categorizations based on parity and socio-economic status.
Main Results:
- Both primigravidae and multiparous users demonstrated a willingness to delegate certain decision-making aspects to medical professionals.
- Identified distinct user profiles within primigravida and multipara groups, considering socio-economic factors.
Conclusions:
- Understanding diverse user needs and decision-making preferences is crucial for tailoring maternity services.
- Maternity care providers should acknowledge and potentially leverage the trust placed in them by service users for shared decision-making.