Some significant obstetric trends in a metropolitan area

Abstract Because of the importance of planning for the future, three significant obstetric trends were examined in the metropolitan area in which the author resides: the number of infants born; the source of obstetric care sought; and the utilization of obstetric care resources of this metropolitan area by surrounding rural areas. If present trends continue, the number of births will increase 50 per cent by 1990, the number of general practitioners practicing obstetrics will be negligible and the obstetric care facilities of metropolitan counties will be used to an increasing degree by surrounding rural counties.