Ansprüche an die Geburtshilfe in der Großstadt: Präpartale Erhebung

In recent years, obstetrics has been facing ever greater expectations on the part of its patients. An increasing number of women show a marked interest in experiencing pregnancy and delivery in a more aware and, above all, active manner. The study at hand presents the results of a survey conducted at seven obstetric departments in Vienna in which a total of 431 primiparous women were questioned with regard to their knowledge, their wishes and expectations, as well as their preparations in view of the imminent delivery. The information lag, particularly among less educated women, still appears to be considerable: 20% of the women had no clear idea as to the role of the midwife, and approximately a quarter of them only had a vague notion of the meaning of the term "Caesarean section". 62% of the women identified their gynaecologist as the main source of information. For the atmosphere during the actual delivery to be perceived as pleasant, the parturient has to be in the care of well-trained and friendly staff. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that well-informed women are less inclined to be afraid of pain and consequently tend to be more relaxed during delivery. The correlation between stress and obstetric complications is sufficiently documented. The results of this survey indicate that in future increased emphasis will have to be on education and information, as well as on meeting women's expectations in respect of expert care.