Family delivery from the standpoint of fathers—Can stereotypes of participant or non-participant father be fully justified?

ObjectivesFamily delivery is an important aspect of modern obstetrics. The aim of this study was to estimate the phenomenon of family delivery from the standpoint of participating and non-participating fathers.Study designTwo types of questionnaires were used in the study. Five hundred and five men were divided into two groups: (A) delivery participants and (B) delivery non-participants.ResultsThe participants were significantly younger than non-participants. Better educated men dominated in group (A), whereas men with trade education were the majority in group (B). Low birth classes attendance among women in group (B) was noticed. All men in group (B) knew about the possibility of taking part in the delivery. Almost 100% of participants declared their satisfaction with family delivery. For non-participants, wife and media were the main source of knowledge, while for participants it was the medical staff and labor schools.ConclusionsFamily labor is commonly accepted by both partners and is generally connected with positive emotions. This phenomenon is generally approved by couples with higher economical status. Family labor resignation, common among pairs with lower economical status, is caused generally by fear and lack of proper knowledge. Health care providers, through labor schools and outpatients visits, should concentrate on getting to couples, whose attitude towards family labor is negative. Educational programs and popular press articles should be prepared more thoroughly, focusing on the whole population of potential fathers.