In India, over 90% of women become mothers. At present 58% of these women deliver without skilled assistance during delivery and 66% deliver at home (IIPS & ORC Macro, 2001)..  Maternal mortality in India, estimated at 437 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, results primarily from infection, hemorrhage, eclampsia, obstructed labor, abortion, and anemia. Lack of appropriate care during pregnancy and childbirth, and especially the inadequacy of services for detecting and managing complications, explains most of the maternal deaths (World Bank Group). Historically, the major focus in maternity services has been to reduce maternal mortality by providing and encouraging the use of hospital- based services. Less attention has been paid to the quality of care within hospital based-services and there is growing evidence that women receive and experience appalling care in some institutions. Examples of poor institutional care identified in a number of studies range from the use of inappropriate obstetrical care, such as the routine use of practices that are not evidence based. (Qian et al., 2001). Evidence-based practice contrasts with the more familiar task oriented approach to clinical practice. The WHO promotes evidence based obstetrics and classifies practices in normal birth according to evidence.   Little is known about routine care during the intrapartum period in maternity units in India. To study intrapartum care practices and attitudes, 300 maternity care providers in New Delhi were asked to complete a survey designed to explore best practice attitudes and performance.  This presentation will report the findings of the survey and discuss the state of evidence based practice and the implications for nursing education and  practice.  

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