The work represents the attitude of mothers-to-be, their partners and midwives towards the importance of courses of psychophysical preparation for delivery. In the theoretical part of the work we define and describe the psychophysical preparation for delivery and point out its meaning, aims and methods. In the empirical part we deal with a research, which was realised in maternity wards of three hospitals in Slovakia and among women in labour and widwives. We have defined the connection between taking part on courses of psychophysical preparation for delivery and the ability of women´s cooperation at childbirth, the degree of satisfaction of midwives with these kinds of courses and the cooperation of women in labour who attended these courses. We have mapped how effectively men could help at the birth to their partners, who, at least received basic information about delivery and we wanted to know if the courses would have been visited by more people concerned, if they were financed by health insurance companies. By verifying the hypothesis we found out that men with qualified prenatal preparation can support their partners at childbirth, and the interest towards courses of psychophysical preparation for delivery is increasing thanks to women who have attended this kind of course. Whereas a correctly and seriously lead psychophysical preparation for delivery fulfils the factor of prevention as well, it would be needed to realize them to a great extent.

Slovenská zdravotnícka univerzita Bratislava Fakulta ošetrovateľstva a zdravotníckych odborných ńtúdií Katedra pôrodnej asistencie Bratislava

Lit.: 8