QUESTIONING FATHERS IN THE LABOR ROOM BEF ORE AND AFTER DELIVERY

Meanwhile the attendence of fathers in the labour room is common. From 1. 7. 90-15. 10. 91 510 German fathers were interviewed before and 45 ' after labour. In comparison a smaller number (n = 56) of fathers wer e questioned who had decided not to attend. The evaluated data was spl it in the following three categories: 1. pre-post comparison; 2. ''par ticipants'' and ''non-participants'' comparison; 3. special problems. The most mentioned reason for participation (over 85%) was the positiv e influence on the women. More then 70% of the attendants even wanted to support their wifes during complicated delivery and surgical interv entions. Approximately 5% of the fathers attending a clinic delivery w ould then prefer a home delivery because they more or less felt as a s ubstitute to medical personnel. Non participants evidently were anxiou s due to missing preparation and information about the parturition. So metimes the women desired no participation of their partners. About 23 % of the men decided to attend labour just before birth. Practical rec ommendations are given and the change in the point of view of the fath ers during course of labour is presented in this paper.