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This paper, one in a series of occasional publications, discusses the role of the midwife, or "daya," in contemporary Egypt. The series is intended to increase understanding of the interrelationships between population growth and socioeconomic and cultural patterns throughout the world, and to communicate this understanding to scholars and policy makers. The following questions are discussed: (1) How is the traditional midwife faring in Egypt, a country where modern medicine has been practiced for many decades and where maternal and child health and family planning services are within reach of most inhabitants? (2) How have her role and her practices evolved and adjusted in the face of competition from modern medical practice? (3) What forms of interaction exist between her and the public health personnel? (4) How does she view family planning activities and is there any way in which she can be induced to help rather than to obstruct family planning efforts? (Author/RM)