Sociological aspects of attenders and non-attenders of antenatal classes.

One hundred and eighty-six women delivering in a one-month period were questioned about their attendance at antenatal education classes and various sociological characteristics. Forty-three women had never attended antenatal classes: young women, unmarried women, Maori or Pacific Island women and women of low socio-economic status or educational achievement were disproportionately represented amongst the non-attenders. Non-attenders of antenatal classes also lacked knowledge about the classes and had more transport and child care problems when compared with attenders. The present antenatal classes are not being attended by those who would probably benefit most from education for parenthood.