National Survey of Health and Development
1946 The Maternity Survey
1946 The Costs Study
nshd_46_tcs
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
MATERNITY SURVEY
ROYAL COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS & GYNAECOLOGISTS AND THE POPULATION INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
TELL THE MOTHER:-
1. That thousands of mothers all over the country are being asked these questions.
2. That by giving details as to how much it has cost her to have this baby and to clothe it, she will be helping us to work out ways in which the medical and other expenses of bearing children may be lightened.
3. That all information she gives wilt be regarded as absolutely confidential.
HOW TO FILL IN THIS FORM.
1. The questions are printed in light type and the mothers' answers in small capitals. Instructions to the interviewer are in italics.
2. The answers to the questions are shown by putting a ring with a soft pencil round the code number or letter opposite the mother's answer. If the answer does not fit any alternative, write it below the question itself. When comments or opinions are asked for, as far as possible write down the mother's own words. If the mother refuses _to answer any question put a ring round "X" for "No answer."
3. Before you interview the mother, read through the questionnaire and answer as many questions as possible from your records and those of the midwife and sanitary department. However, check all answers you have obtained from the records with the mother when you interview her.
4. It will probably be most convenient to make an appointment with the mother for this interview. If she refuses to be interviewed, try to find out her reasons and write them in the space provided. Then fill in as much of the questionnaire as you can from the records, the essential items to obtain being the mother's age (6), number of children (15), whether she attended for ante-natal care (19), where she was confined (22), and occupation of her husband (48).
IT IS AS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET BACK REFUSALS AS COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES, SO PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY REFUSALS BUT RETURN THEM TO US.
5. Please follow the order of the questions as set out in the questionnaire and keep as close to the phrasing as you can. When any question does not apply to a particular mother, do not ask her it. In such cases do NOT ring "X" for "No answer,'' but STRIKE RIGHT THROUGH THE QUESTION.
6. When interviewing a mother whose baby was still-born or has died since birth, use your own judgment in leaving out any questions that might embarrass her.
7. In filling in the cost questions, please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.
8. Before leaving the mother, please check through the questionnaire to see that all relevant questions have been answered.
9. When you have completed this questionnaire, do NOT send it to London, but hand it, with any others you may have, by May 10th, to whoever has been delegated by your Medical Officer of Health to receive them.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Mother's Name
Address
If she has transferred since delivery to another M. and C.W Authority, what is her present address?
If mother is not interviewed because she refused, was ill, etc., give reasons
Ring with a soft pencil the code number opposite the mother's answer.
Details of this Birth
The Mother and her Work
Mother's age ... YEARS ... MONTHS
What was the last school or other place of education you attended?
Were you working when you started this baby?
was it a whole or a part-time job?
What was your occupation at the time you started this baby?
How many weeks before baby came did you stop working? ... WEEKS
Were you given leave of absence from work because this baby was coming?
was it with full pay, part pay, or no pay at all?
how many weeks in all were you given? ... WEEKS
Do you intend to return to work?
In how many months after the birth of your baby do you intend to return to work? ... MONTHS
This Mother's Children
(Include this baby - exclude miscarriages and adopted or step-children.)
Ask all mothers.
Number of children born to this mother who are still alive and under five years old?
Number of children born to this mother who are still alive and five years or older?
Number of children born alive to this mother who have since died?
Number of children still-born to this mother?
Total number of children (alive and dead) born to this mother?
Care of this Baby
Baby's weight at birth. If twins, give weight of each separately. Please check weight from records.) ... POUNDS ... OUNCES
How are you feeding baby?
How old was this baby when you started bottle feeding him? ... DAYS
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Ask all mothers.
Who gave you ante-natal care and advice?
How many weeks before baby was born did you first go to a doctor, midwife, or clinic. ... WEEKS
How many times did you attend for ante-natal care or advice:- During the first seven months of pregnancy?
How many times did you attend for ante-natal care or advice:- During the last two months of pregnancy?
How many times did you attend for ante-natal care or advice:- Total number of attendances during pregnancy?
Where was this baby born?
How many days before the baby was born were you admitted to the hospital or nursing home? ... DAYS
Ask all mothers.
Were you given anything during childbirth to relieve the pain?
was anything offered to you?
What were you given or offered? (Health visitors please check if possible.)
How many days after baby was born did you leave the hospital or nursing home? ... DAYS
Ask all mothers.
How many days after baby was born did you start doing a full day's work in the house again? ... DAYS
Help in the House and Care of the Children
Who looked after your husband while you were in bed with this baby?
Who looked after your other children while you were in bed with this baby?
Ask all mothers.
Did you have any paid or unpaid help in the house including relations or friends during the last 13 weeks of pregnancy?
For how many weeks were you helped? ... WEEKS
For how many hours each week were you helped? ... HOURS EACH WEEK
Ask all mothers.
Have you had any paid or unpaid help in the house - including relations and friends - since baby was born?
For how many weeks were you helped? ... WEEKS
For how many hours each week were you helped? ... HOURS EACH WEEK
Who helped you with the housework?
Ask all mothers.
If you have another baby, would you like a municipal home help to assist with the housework?
why not?
Have you sent your children to a day-nursery?
Ask all mothers.
Will you send this baby to a day-nursery, assuming that one is available?
Extra Nourishment during Pregnancy
Were you able to get your full extra ration of a pint of milk a day?
why not?
Were you able to get your full allocation of orange juice? (1 bottle every 9-12 days)
why not?
Did you get your full allocation of cod liver oil or vitamins? (Bottle or packet every six weeks.)
why not?
The House and those who live in it
Maternity Benefits, etc.
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter benefits separately opposite each item.)
The Cost of Pregnancy
(All costs and fees is the total due from the mother after assessment and before deduction of maternity benefit or other statutory contribution to the cost. Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
How many of the following baby clothes, maternity garments, and other articles do you own? What was the cost of those bought and made during this pregnancy? Total amount spent during this pregnancy on above items ... POUNDS ... SHILLINGS
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
How many of the following baby clothes, maternity garments, and other articles do you own? What was the cost of those bought and made during this pregnancy? Total amount spent during this pregnancy on maternity garments ... POUNDS ... SHILLINGS
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
How many of the following baby clothes, maternity garments, and other articles do you own? What was the cost of those bought and made during this pregnancy? Total amount spent during this pregnancy on prams, etc. ... POUNDS ... SHILLINGS
(Please do not bracket items together, but enter costs separately opposite each item.)
Occupation of Father
(If husband is temporarily in the Forces, retired, unemployed or dead, these answers should refer to his previous occupation. All these questions relate only to mother's present husband).
What does your husband do?
In what trade or industry does he work?
Is he:-
If your husband is not an employer or working for himself, what is his employer's business?
Date of interview
Time taken for interview ... minutes
nshd_46_tcs
Details of this Birth
The Mother and her Work
This Mother's Children
Care of this Baby
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Help in the House and Care of the Children
Extra Nourishment during Pregnancy
The House and those who live in it
Maternity Benefits, etc.
The Cost of Pregnancy
Occupation of Father
1946 The Costs Study