title: Comparing the campaigning profile of maternity user groups in Europe--can we learn anything useful?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the extent to which women in three European countries were able to exert influence over the organization and delivery of maternity policy and the factors likely to determine their success.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews used to collect data, which was analysed in a framework that emphasized the importance of contextual environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Representatives of 19 lay maternity user organizations in England, the Netherlands and Germany interviewed during 1996 and 1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each interviewee was asked to provide details of their aims and objectives, activities and networks and perception of success. Four areas of contextual environment were used to account for variations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported accounts of success in influencing policy agenda, credibility with opinion formers, campaigning activities and political networking were compared between and across countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Marked differences between both the aspirations and the achievements of groups in the three countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the differences between countries in relation to user involvement entails locating research within the social, political and cultural context of health-care, consumerism and citizen participation.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. tylerdines@mac.com
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyler
mesh_terms: D003255:Consumer Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009321:Natural Childbirth; D009426:Netherlands; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011050:Policy Making; D011247:Pregnancy; D011641:Public Relations; D006113:United Kingdom