A comparison of attenders at antenatal classes in the voluntary and statutory sectors: education and organisational implications

Abstract

Objective: this study sought to identify whether differences existed in the demographic details of clients attending each of three types of antenatal classes: those provided at a large inner city hospital, and those provided in the voluntary sector by National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and Active Birth teachers. The aim was to establish whether there is an overlap in provision of antenatal education which might warrant a rationalisation of services. Design: a survey was conducted using questionnaires which asked for basic demographic details. Setting: the questionnaires were distributed at antenatal classes held in the hospital and in the venues used by the lay teachers (generally their homes). Participants: these included 78 primiparae attending ‘couples’ classes at the hospital, 36 primiparae attending NCT classes and 25 primiparae attending Active Birth classes. Findings: the women in the three groups were largely similar in terms of being older than the national average for childbearing women, middle-class and affluent as measured by car-ownership. Women from social classes 4 and 5 and very young women were almost entirely unrepresented. Twenty-three per cent of hospital class attenders, 61% of NCT attenders and 48% of Active Birth attenders were also going to a second set of antenatal classes, suggesting a considerable duplication of effort on behalf of childbirth educators. Key conclusions: liaison between the voluntary and statutory sectors could lead to a more rational deployment of childbirth educators for the group of women currently attending antenatal classes, thus freeing midwives for one-to-one information giving or alternative educational provision for women who do not now attend formal classes and who may be considered at risk.