Characteristics of included studies
| ID number | Author | Year | Country | Study aim | Data collection method | Planned birth method at time of study | Participants (n) | Timing of interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Ridley30 | 2002 | USA | Discover what influences women in the decision to deliver via VBAC | Interview (FTF) | VBAC | 5 | Postnatal (2–4/12) |
| M2 | York31 | 2005 | UK | Describe childbirth expectations, influences and knowledge in women who had experienced emergency CS and planned subsequent CS | Interview (FTF) | CS | 10 | Antenatal (third trimester) |
| M3 | Liu23 | 2006 | China | Investigate the decision factors involved and experience of women who had successful VBAC | Interview (FTF), researcher diary, field notes | VBAC | 10 | Postnatal (1–2/7) |
| M4* | Fenwick18 | 2006 | Australia | Describe childbirth expectations, influences and knowledge in women who had experienced emergency CS and planned subsequent CS | Interview (T), field notes | CS | 49 | Pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal (no limits) |
| M5 | Emmett32 | 2006 | UK | Explore women’s experience of decision-making regarding mode of delivery after having a previous CS | Interview (FTF) | VBAC and CS | 21 | Postnatal (2–8/12) |
| M6 | Cheung33 | 2006 | China | Understand Chinese women's perceptions and interpretations of their own CS decision- making, and to investigate how their negotiation with healthcare professionals may be improved | Interview (FTF), field notes | CS | 52 | Postnatal (1/52 or 8/12) |
| M7 | Meddings34 | 2006 | UK | Examine the lived experience of women who elected to attempt a vaginal birth following a previous CS delivery | Interview (FTF)*2 | VBAC | 8 | Antenatal (>34/40) and postnatal (∼6/52) |
| M8 | Moffat35 | 2007 | UK | Prospectively explore women's decision-making regarding mode of delivery after a previous CS | Consultation observation, patient diaries, interview (FTF) | VBAC and CS | 26 | Antenatal (from 20/40) and postnatal(6/52) |
| M9* | Fenwick36 | 2007 | Australia | Explore childbirth expectations and knowledge of women who had experienced a CS and would prefer a vaginal birth in a subsequent pregnancy | Interview (T) | VBAC | 35 | Pre-pregnancy, Antenatal and Postnatal (no limits) |
| M10 | Farnworth37 | 2007 | UK | Identify and describe factors which influence women making a choice regarding mode of delivery after a previous CS delivery in a UK setting, and to identify the role of the obstetrician in this process | Interview (FTF) | VBAC and CS | 10 | Antenatal (36/40) |
| M11 | Cox38 | 2007 | UK | Explore issues around the choices between VBAC and elective CS based on the nature and extent of the information women actually received when making a decision between elective CS and VBAC, the sources of that information, and its importance in terms of the influence it had on their decision | Interview (type not clear) | VBAC and CS | 7 | Postnatal (timing not clear) |
| M12 | Farnworth39 | 2008 | UK | Examine the impact of a decision support intervention designed for women choosing mode of delivery after one previous CS | Interview (FTF) | VBAC and CS | 18 | Antenatal (37/40) |
| M13† | McGrath40 | 2009(a) | Australia | Explore, from the mother's perspective, the decision-making experience with regard to subsequent birth choice for women who had delivered previously by CS | Interview (FTF) | CS | 16 | Postnatal (6/52) |
| M14† | McGrath41 | 2009(b) | Australia | Describe the perspective of mothers who underwent elective CS on risks associated with the delivery modes of VBAC and elective CS, and their experience discussing such risks with their health professionals | Interview (FTF) | CS | 16 | Postnatal (6/52) |
| M15 | Goodall42 | 2009 | UK | Explore women's perceptions of the role of health professionals in their decision regarding mode of delivery, following previous delivery by CS | Interview (FTF) | VBAC and CS | 8 | Antenatal (20–40/40) |
| M16 | Frost43 | 2009 | UK | Obtain the views of women on their experiences of decision-making about the method of delivery following a previous CS , and the role of decision aids in this process | Interview (FTF) | VBAC and CS | 30 | Antenatal (37/40), postnatal (6–8/52) |
| M17† | Phillips24 | 2009 | Australia | Explore, from a phenomenological perspective, the reasons motivating women to try for or achieve VBAC | Interview (FTF) | VBAC | 4 | Postnatal (6/52) |
| M18† | McGrath44 | 2010(a) | Australia | Explore, from the mothers’ perspective, the process of decision-making about mode of delivery for a subsequent birth after a previous CS | Interview (FTF) | VBAC | 4 | Postnatal (6/52) |
| M19 | David45 Originates from same study as | 2010 | Australia | Provide maternity healthcare providers with an increased understanding of, and insight into, the different information needs of this specific group of maternity care consumers. | Telephone log and field notes | VBAC | 170 | Antenatal (various gestations) |
| M20† | McGrath46 | 2010(b) | Australia | To focus on findings which recorded the frustration of women who valued a vaginal delivery but who delivered by CS | Interview (FTF) | CS | 8 | Postnatal (6/52) |
*Originates from same study (M4 and M9).
†Originates from same study (M13, M14, M17, M18 and M20).
CS, caesarean section; FTF, face-to-face; M, manuscript; T, telephone; VBAC, vaginal birth after CS.