lit recent years, obstetrical management reflecting the individual needs of
parturient women and newborn children has acquired an increasing significa
nce. Today, the majority of obstetrical departments provide alternatives to
traditional methods of delivery. The purpose of this study was to analyze
the current obstetric situation as perceived by the women concerned. During
the lying-in period spent in the cave of the obstetrical department, 386 w
omen were interviewed as to their birth experience. The questionnaire emplo
yed used a predominantly structured format The present study examined a tot
al of six Of Vienna's municipal hospitals.
The majority of women interviewed were satisfied with the standard of care
provided by obstetricians and midwives. However, certain administrative and
organizational aspects were subject to criticism, for example, shift chang
es among the medical staff as well as the presence of an excessive number o
f people during delivery were felt to detract from the intimate character o
f giving birth. In general, the standards of care provided by urban obstetr
ical departments as well as the experience of giving birth itself confirmed
women's expectations. However certain areas remain where improvements seem
both desirable and feasible without requiring undue effort. Women who gave
a positive assessment of their personal experience of delivery also tended
to carry away a favorable impression of their stay in hospital as a whale.