D.Cur. / The primary objective of the study was to ascertain the effects of the use of water during birth on maternal outcomes. The main maternal outcomes evaluated were maternal experience of the second stage of labour, and trauma to the birth canal. The second objective was to set guidelines for midwives whether or not to conduct deliveries under water.

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Cur. / Women approach the experience of childbirth from their own frame of reference, expectations and the types of experiences which they encountered during their lifetime. Although much is done to prepare women for childbirth and motherhood, little information is obtained about the mother's experience of childbirth during the intra partum period, regardless of delivering naturally or with the administering of epidural anaesthesia. with this research it was endeavoured to gain more knowledge about the experiences of women during childbirth. The midwife can use this knowledge to have better insight in the needs of these women to ensure a better quality of patient care. A qualitative study was undertaken. The phenomenological method (the autobiographical method) was used, within the context of a private hospital on the West Rand. During March to April 1990 unstructured (non formative) interviews were conducted with 10 primigravidas that delivered vaginally. Five of the 10 women made use of epidural anaesthesia. A study of the literature was done to determine what the experts have already ascertained about this phenomenon. Themes were selected from the literature and the women's experiences were accordingly grouped. of this research, it appears that the who have delivered by means of epidural from those who delivered naturally. were identified where women had the same From the findings experiences of women anaesthesia, differ Universal experiences type of delivery. Recommendations were made on how the midwife can contribute to fulfil in the identified needs of the woman in labour.

M.Cur. / In this study a qualitative design which is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature is followed. The objective of the study is three-fold: firstly, to explore and describe the opinions of members of the community about the reasons for the under-utilization of the Midwifery Obstetrical Unit ; secondly, to explore and describe the suggestions of the community for improving the utilization of the Midwifery Obstetrical Unit and, thirdly, to formulate intervention strategies for community nurses to improve the utilization of the MOU. Data was collected by means of focus group interviews, and was analysed using Tesch's method of data analysis. Trustworthiness was ensured by using the method of Guba and Lincoln. The participants in research were mothers who delivered their babies at the hospital, mothers who delivered their babies at the MOU, members of the Community Health Committee and MOU nurses.