title: Paternal engagement during childbirth depending on the manner of their preparation.
abstract: The analysis of the forms of paternal activity depending on the manner of their preparation, including stages of labor.
  
  
  
  A prospective survey-based study involved 250 fathers who participated in their child's birth. The fathers included in the study were present during all stages of family-assisted natural labor. The study was conducted one day after childbirth with the use of a survey prepared by the authors. Statistical calculations were conducted using the Statistica PL software. The frequency of individual qualitative features (non-measurable) was assessed by means of a non-parametric χ² (chi-squared) test. The statistical significance level was p < 0.05.
  
  
  
  A half of the fathers included in the study (52.4%) participated in childbirth with no prior preparation. The dominant form of preparation involved self-education from books, magazines and the Internet (24%). 23.6% of fathers participated in ante-natal classes. The study demonstrated that fathers prepared for childbirth in ante-natal classes more often engaged in the supportive role, provided nursing care and carried out instrumental monitoring during each stage of childbirth.
  
  
  
  The fathers prepared for childbirth in ante-natal classes more often engage in the supportive role, provide nursing care and carry out instrumental control during each stage of childbirth. Ante-natal classes should be promoted as an optimal form of preparation for active participation in childbirth. Moreover, other forms of paternal ante-natal education as well as continued education in a delivery room should be developed.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Chair of Woman's Health, Department of Nursing in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Katowice, Poland. urszulamarkowska@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sioma-Markowska
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poręba
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machura
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Skrzypulec-Plinta
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D064186:Prenatal Education; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support
keywords: family-assisted childbirth; participation of father; preparation for childbirth