Carmen Solano Ruiz

The father's decision making in home birth

OBJECTIVE This work sought to inquire on the fathers role on the decision making regarding home birth from the perspective of both partners. METHODOLOGY The design was ethnographic of qualitative nature, conducted in the province of Alicante, Spain. A total of 11 couples participated voluntarily in the study. To gather the data, the following techniques were used: two life stories, five narrations, and in-depth interviews of all the study participants. The data obtained were analyzed with the ATLAS-ti v6.2 software. RESULTS Four fundamental categories were obtained: fathers attitude, role performed, influencing factors, and perception of the woman. Theproposal to carry out the delivery at home tends to be made by the woman, but its decision is made jointly. This decision is influenced by different factors, like: good evolution of the pregnancy, accompaniment by a professional, and the couples beliefs on the delivery. The fathers consider they must be respectful of the womans decision and accompany them during the whole process; the women are comforted by their unconditional support and accompaniment, considering it essential. CONCLUSION The fathers role is fundamental in the planned decision of having a home birth; a decision discussed and mediated by the couple in which their fears and beliefs are determinant in their decision. The woman has her partners support to implement her decision.

Toma decisões do pai na realização do parto no domicílio

OBJECTIVE This work sought to inquire on the fathers role on the decision making regarding home birth from the perspective of both partners. METHODOLOGY The design was ethnographic of qualitative nature, conducted in the province of Alicante, Spain. A total of 11 couples participated voluntarily in the study. To gather the data, the following techniques were used: two life stories, five narrations, and in-depth interviews of all the study participants. The data obtained were analyzed with the ATLAS-ti v6.2 software. RESULTS Four fundamental categories were obtained: fathers attitude, role performed, influencing factors, and perception of the woman. Theproposal to carry out the delivery at home tends to be made by the woman, but its decision is made jointly. This decision is influenced by different factors, like: good evolution of the pregnancy, accompaniment by a professional, and the couples beliefs on the delivery. The fathers consider they must be respectful of the womans decision and accompany them during the whole process; the women are comforted by their unconditional support and accompaniment, considering it essential. CONCLUSION The fathers role is fundamental in the planned decision of having a home birth; a decision discussed and mediated by the couple in which their fears and beliefs are determinant in their decision. The woman has her partners support to implement her decision.

Toma decisiones del padre en la realización del parto en el domicilio

OBJECTIVE This work sought to inquire on the fathers role on the decision making regarding home birth from the perspective of both partners. METHODOLOGY The design was ethnographic of qualitative nature, conducted in the province of Alicante, Spain. A total of 11 couples participated voluntarily in the study. To gather the data, the following techniques were used: two life stories, five narrations, and in-depth interviews of all the study participants. The data obtained were analyzed with the ATLAS-ti v6.2 software. RESULTS Four fundamental categories were obtained: fathers attitude, role performed, influencing factors, and perception of the woman. Theproposal to carry out the delivery at home tends to be made by the woman, but its decision is made jointly. This decision is influenced by different factors, like: good evolution of the pregnancy, accompaniment by a professional, and the couples beliefs on the delivery. The fathers consider they must be respectful of the womans decision and accompany them during the whole process; the women are comforted by their unconditional support and accompaniment, considering it essential. CONCLUSION The fathers role is fundamental in the planned decision of having a home birth; a decision discussed and mediated by the couple in which their fears and beliefs are determinant in their decision. The woman has her partners support to implement her decision.