Kennis en verwagtinge van die primigravida oor baring

M.Cur.The primigravida's experience of childbirth is influenced by the knowledge and expectations she has of childbirth. Her expectations of childbirth are based on the information she got from the antenatal clinic, the nursing staff, her mother, friends and family. The purpose of this research was to determine the knowledge and expectations the primigravida has of childbirth. An exploratory, descriptive design was used within the context of an academic hospital in Johannesburg. The survey method was used. The method of research firstly consisted of a literature study of the primigravida's knowledge and expectations of childbirth. This was done in order to put the problem in perspective and also to serve as a theoretical framework for the study. Secondly, a structured questionnaire was used to make a survey of the primigravida's knowledge and expectations of childbirth. The test sample comprised all white primigravidas between the ages of 15 and 39 years with a pregnancy duration of 37 weeks and more who visited the antenatal clinic of an academic hospital in Johannesburg. Over a period of 11 weeks, from 15 october to 30 December 1989, 29 primigravidas participated in this research project. The questionnaires were completed with their visit to the antenatal clinic and then returned to the clinic staff. Descriptive statistics and frequency tables were used to interpret the results of the research. From this research it is clear that the respondents had insufficient knowledge of childbirth and the handling of pain during childbirth. This insufficient knowledge can mainly be attributed to the poor attendance of antenatal . preparation classes, inadequate professional counselling and the mother of the primigravida as the primary source of information on childbirth. The respondents, however, had realistic expectations· with regard to their handling of labour, as well as of the role of the midwife and the doctor