Popular Media Influences Childbirth Methods
Monday, May 11, 2015 - 18:20
in Psychology & Sociology
Women's magazines influence decisions to have a more 'natural' childbirth or not, with most stories in favor of epidural or potentially a Cesarean section. Scholars writing in Women&Health decided to assess the effect of communicating the benefits of more natural birth. Kate Young, lead author from Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said popular media was biased towards things like epidurals even in low risk births, though the authors say it leads to preventable maternal and infant morbidity. "We wanted to look at how women's decisions might be influenced by communicating the alternative benefits of non-medicalized birth," Young said. read more