Maternity unit design study part 3: Environmental comfort and control

Andrew Symon, Jeanette Paul, Maggie Butchart, Val Carr, Pat Dugard

    Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Control and empowerment are crucial aspects of contemporary midwifery. Enabling a labouring woman to be in control is believed to aid the normal physiological process. To date no studies have explicitly considered individual control over environmental variables and its association with satisfaction levels. This second results paper presents data from a questionnaire survey of 559 mothers and 227 ward-based staff. While most mothers felt they could control the lighting within the birthing room, this was not the case in all the units surveyed; few acknowledged that they could adjust temperature or ventilation within the room. Staff attitudes towards this varied: 24% of midwives believed that such control should not be given to labouring or postnatal women. A perceived lack of control over environmental variables was common among midwives. Adverse comments about oppressive heating and lighting were common. Environmental noise was an irritant for some and was also cited as a factor in reducing work effectiveness.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)167-171
    Number of pages5
    JournalBritish Journal of Midwifery
    Volume16
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Maternity and Midwifery

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