Objective: to ascertain the reasons why mothers choose to have a home birth and the factors that influence these reasons.
Methods: this cross-sectional study involved 392 women and was conducted between June and September 2003 in a rural setting in Turkey. The data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the authors. The questionnaire included demographic information, obstetric background, the reasons for deciding to give birth at home as well as questions on who encouraged the decision to give birth at home and who assisted in the home births.
Findings: the decision to have a home birth is related to economic difficulties and the desire to benefit from the assistance of neighbours. Women who had experienced both planned and unplanned home births reported that home birth was unsafe.
Conclusion: preliminary information is provided about women having home births that may inform practitioners' educational efforts and future research.