Childbirth education in 1980

A questionnaire was developed to elicit information from childbirth educators regarding their preparation; their clients; their business arrangements; and their opinions on class content, national guidelines, and certification. From 776 questionnaires mailed, 238 usable responses were obtained. Persons of varing backgrounds enter childbirth education through a variety of routes, practice in a variety of settings, and use varied content. A majority agree that there is a need for national guidelines for preparation and content.