Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
- To ascertain the contraceptive methods used by a random sample of recent mothers. 2. To describe their use of and satisfaction with contraceptive services. 3. To determine the proportion of unintended pregnancies. 4. To describe changes over time, particularly in methods of contraception (in view of AIDS). 5. To determine whether cuts in services have increased the numbers of unintended pregnancies. 6. To explore the association between aspects of delivery and relationships between mother and baby.
Main Topics:
Unintended pregnancy and contraception use; induction of labour; contraceptive services; prevalence of procedures in childbirth; changes over time; pregnancy intentions and effecct on maternity; information given during labour and delivery. Measurement Scales Depression scale developed from <i>The Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale</i>. Measures used based on: Green, J.M., Coupland, V.A. and Kitzinger, J.V. <i>Great expectations : a prospective study of women's expectations and experiences of childbirth. Vol.1.</i> (Cambridge: Child Care and Development Group, University of Cambridge, 1988). Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M. and Sagovskey, R. `Detection of postnatal depression, development of te 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale' <i>British Journal of Psychiatry</i> Vol 150, 1987.
One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
birth registration districts stratified by local authority area (Greater London,metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts). Twenty areas selected with probability proportional to number of live births. OPCS then randomly selected 100 births in each area. In order to make this study comparable with previous studies based on maternities rather than births, further sampling of mothers of twins or triplets (who were more likely to have been selected) reduced the number of eleigible questionnaires by 23. For further details see the documentation.
Postal survey
