Patient participation in alternative perinatal care: impact on satisfaction and health locus of control.

Women's degree of participation, satisfaction, and change in health locus of control after giving birth in an alternative birthing unit was examined. A quasiexperimental two-group design of convenience samples (N = 99) was used to compare differences and evaluate the care given. An alternative birthing experience increased women's sense of participation and related to women's satisfaction, but did not change internal scores on the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales. Women's reliance on powerful others increased post delivery. Complications were negatively related to selected aspects of women's satisfaction in labor and delivery, but positively related to satisfaction with antepartal care.