Factors influencing women's decision to have a home birth in rural Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
to ascertain the reasons why mothers choose to have a home birth and the factors that influence these reasons.


METHODS
this cross-sectional study involved 392 women and was conducted between June and September 2003 in a rural setting in Turkey. The data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the authors. The questionnaire included demographic information, obstetric background, the reasons for deciding to give birth at home as well as questions on who encouraged the decision to give birth at home and who assisted in the home births.


RESULTS
the decision to have a home birth is related to economic difficulties and the desire to benefit from the assistance of neighbours. Women who had experienced both planned and unplanned home births reported that home birth was unsafe.


CONCLUSIONS
preliminary information is provided about women having home births that may inform practitioners' educational efforts and future research.
Kukulu
Kamile
K
School of Health, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey. kkamile@akdeniz.edu.tr
Oncel
Selma
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult