[Early discharge of women after delivery. Results of an opinion survey among patients and unit personnel].
Women's and maternity staff's opinion about early discharge and home care after hospital delivery was studied in 1981 in an university clinic; 100 pregnant women and 100 newly delivered mothers filled in a questionnaire, the former during an antenatal visit, the latter during their stay in hospital after delivery; and so did all the staff of the maternity unit. We found that 28% of pregnant women, 22% of newly delivered mothers and 25% of maternity staff were in favour of a short stay in hospital after delivery followed by home care. The main reasons for disapproving a short postnatal stay were medical safety, need for rest and fear of being alone with the baby. For the women approving of early discharge the best duration of hospital stay was 2 or 3 days. Rather more doctors, head nurses and midwives than nurses, auxillary nurses and ancillary staff approved a short stay in hospital after delivery. It seems that the opinion of the maternity staff was not linked to changes in working conditions that this new organization would introduce. We consider that the women's preference should be given priority in deciding early discharge after delivery, when there is no medical contra-indication. Home care could be a useful transition between hospitalization and being alone at home; for instance health visitors could give advice about breastfeeding, infant care and birth control. But before generalizing this type of care it would be important to evaluate the medical, economic and psycho-social consequences.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007902:Length of Stay; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009774:Obstetrics; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
La sortie précoce des femmes après l'accouchement. Résultats d'une enquête d'opinion auprès des patientes et du personnel d'un service.