The 'unbooked' mother at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban.

'Unbooked' status is associated with excessive perinatal mortality at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban. A survey was therefore conducted to characterize the unbooked mother and to identify important factors contributing to her unbooked status. The unbooked mother was found to come more frequently from a background of unstable relationships and to have poor financial and emotional support. Unwanted babies and inadequate parenting arrangements were more frequent in this group. One factor contributing to unbooked status was the inaccessibility of peripheral services, which too often also offer a low standard of care. Another was the lack of commitment of private practitioners (visited 67% of the study group) to a concept of antenatal care which is cumulative and includes the planning of the timing, mode and place of delivery. Factors which did not influence the booking status of the mother included the use of traditional healers (Umthandazo and Nyanga) and the incidence of previous operative deliveries. Various recommendations arising from these findings are made.