[Attitude of pregnant women towards labour--study of forms of preparation and preferences].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of alternative delivery techniques among pregnant women and their preferences concerning the course of labour.


METHODS
275 woman hospitalizated in obstetric wards in Puck and Ist Clinic in Warsaw were questionnaired in the period of July 2003 - February 2004. The mean age of women was 26 +/- 4.9. 55.7% of them were nulliparous, 44.3% multiparous. T-Student test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The majority of questionnaired women knew alternative positions during delivery and possible analgetic techniques. 25.1% of women attended labour school. 81.2% wanted to give birth in the hospital, 10% at home and 8.8% in the delivery room. 51.1% preferred waterbirth and 22.5% obstetric chair--most of them came from the big cities, were better educated and attended labour school. Almost half of all women are in favour of epidural anaesthesia of delivery. Caesarean section on request was supported by 13.8%. For 67.4% the presence of intimates during labour was important.


CONCLUSIONS
Labour school has a significant influence on women's knowledge and their preferences. Waterbirth and other modern delivery techniques are very popular among better educated women from big cities, while those with lower education from small cities and villages prefer "classic" labour. Therefore promotion of modern delivery methods and active participation in labour should be concentrated on these groups of women. Nowadays obstetric departments should ensure not only safety of giving birth but also complete personal comfort for pregnant women.
Kosińska
Katarzyna
K
Studenckie Koło Naukowe przy I Klinice Połoznictwa i Ginekologii AM w Warszawie. kaskos@mediclub.pl
Krychowska
Alina
A
Wielgoś
Mirosław
M
Myszewska
Aleksandra
A
Przyboś
Andrzej
A
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires