title: The place of 'active birth' in present-day obstetric practice.
abstract: "Active birth' is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in obstetric practice. The psychosocial background of current public interest in the subject is examined. Guidelines are suggested to accommodate "active-birth' practices within the hospital environment. The Johannesburg Hospital experience of the application of these guidelines in the first 100 patients admitted to the "Midwives Active Birth Unit' is reported.
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D009774:Obstetrics; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D013019:South Africa