title: Opinions of UK perinatal health care professionals on home birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the opinions of UK perinatal health care professionals on home birthing.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  four hospitals and three Primary Care Trusts in the East of England.
  
  
  METHODS
  hospital and community midwives, GPs, consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists, consultant paediatricians and neonatologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  postal questionnaire between December 2010 and June 2011 using Likert scales (range 0-10) and freetext questions. Data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and qualitative methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  opinions, support and enthusiasm for home birthing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  432/831 (52%) professionals responded: 224/418 (54%) midwives, 148/321 (46%) GPs, 32/52 (62%) obstetricians/gynaecologists and 28/41 (68%) paediatricians/neonatologists. Midwives were more enthusiastic about home birthing than any other professionals (median Likert scale rating: 9 [IQR 8-10], p<0.0001) and more supportive of the UK government's plan to increase home birth rates (median 8.5 [IQR 7-10], p<0.0001). GPs and obstetricians/gynaecologists tended to hold neutral opinions about home birthing (median of GPs 5 [IQR 3-7.5] and of obstetrician/gynaecologists 5 [IQR 2-7]) and regarding support for the government's plan (GP median 5 [IQR 2-6]; obstetrician/gynaecologists median 5 [IQR 2-5]). Paediatricians/neonatologists were generally negative about home birthing (median 4 [IQR 3-5]) and opposed to the government's plan (median 3 [IQR 2-5]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  significant differences of opinion exist between UK perinatal health care professional groups about home birthing. Negative and neutral opinions should be further explored and addressed as they may impact on the uptake of home birth by women.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK; Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McNutt
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK; Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Tamsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: Maternity Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY, UK.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sizer
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curley
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, UK. Electronic address: paul.clarke@nnuh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Delivery; Labour; Policy