This book will enable health care professionals, particularly midwives, to understand the spectrum of cultural and religious issues that affect the quality of care that they can give to women and their families during child bearing. They are encouraged to reflect on their own attitudes and assumptions and are offered ways of improving their communication skills in this very sensitive area. Research based, the book also draws on interviews conducted specifically for this publication. In a plural society, everyone involved in providing, planning and managing women's health services, requires special skills to meet individual cultural and religious needs. This unique and sensitive book presents down-to-earth, practical and constructive ways of enhancing practice in all areas of women's health care.