Trends and motivations for freebirth: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Even when maternity care facilities are available, some women will choose to give birth unassisted by a professional (freebirth). This became more apparent during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as women were increasingly concerned they would contract the virus in health care facilities. Several studies have identified the factors that influence women to seek alternative places of birth to hospitals, but research focusing specifically on freebirth is limited.

METHODS

Eight databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022 for studies related to freebirth. Data from the studies were charted and a thematic analysis was subsequently conducted.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified based on findings from the 25 included studies: (1) Geographical and socio-demographic determinants influencing freebirth, (2) Reasons for choosing freebirth, (3) Factors hindering freebirth, and (4) Preparation for and varied experiences of freebirth.

DISCUSSION

More women chose to give birth unassisted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with high-income countries (HICs). Overall, motivation for freebirth included previous negative birth experiences with health care professionals, a desire to adhere to their birth-related beliefs, and fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Included studies reported that study participants were often met with negative responses when they revealed that they were planning to freebirth. Most women in the included studies had positive freebirth experiences. Future research should explore the different motivators of freebirth present in LMICs or HICs to help inform effective policies that may improve birth experiences while maintaining safety.

The Turkish version of perceived support and control in birth scale

OBJECTIVE

This is a methodological study carried out to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Support and Control in Birth Scale (SCIB).

METHODS

This study included 339 post-partum women. The validity of the Turkish version of the scale was assessed in terms of content and construct validity. Reliability was evaluated using the internal consistency coefficient, the test-retest correlation coefficient and the item correlation between the subscales.

RESULTS

The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was 0.84 (p < 0.01). There were significant correlations between sub-scales (rho = 0.122, 0.129, 0.263, p < 0.05), and the test-retest correlation coefficient of the scale was also significant (rho = 0.86, α = 0.000). As in the original scale, a three-factor structure was examined, which explained 42.85% of the total variance. The model was verified by a confirmatory factor analysis.

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of the SCIB is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the perceived support and control during birth among Turkish women.

Socio-demographic parameters in screening for breast cancer: Lessons from a population-'based women's Health Project held in a province in Turkey

PURPOSE

to inform healthy women about breast cancer and screen them, as well as to look for any relationship between demographic and clinical findings and breast cancer.

METHODS

thirty-five health teams were created prior to the study. The teams were primarily trained for breast examination and for screening methods to detect breast cancer.

RESULTS

a total of 77,934 subjects were evaluated. Clinical breast examination (CBE) was performed in 66% (n=51,706) of the participants. The characteristics of the subjects in the examined group were similar to those in the group refusing examination. The percentage of the subjects who declined examination was 2-fold higher in the ≥ 60 year age group compared to younger women. A breast mass was detected in 2,838 (6%) subjects who had undergone breast examination. Lower educational level and urban dwellers showed higher incidence of suspicious mass in CBE. Fifty-eight women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The cumulative incidence of breast cancer was 7.5/10.000 for all of the study population and 10.1/10.000 for women with CBE.

CONCLUSION

elderly subjects, those living in rural areas and women with low educational and lower socio-economic levels should be convinced to undergo screening for breast cancer.