Maternal motives behind elective cesarean sections

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
Emaline Reyes, Karen Rosenberg

Abstract

The World Health Organization recommends a target cesarean section rate of 10-15%. In recent years, the US has had a nation-wide rate of 30.3% and some developed countries are even higher. Many factors account for this high rate, but our hypothesis is that women who elect cesarean section do so at least in part because of unallayed fear. Our sample was comprised of American women of childbearing age who have not given birth but may in the near future. We received 368 online survey responses with a 92% completion rate. Responses were categorical and hypotheses tested with non-parametric statistics. Those who reported a preference for cesarean section were significantly more likely to be extremely fearful of birth (43.9%) than those who reported a preference for vaginal delivery (20.6%). 73.2% of the cesarean section group state that fear is what influenced their birth preference, 9.8% said their fear had no influence, while in the vaginal birth group 18.9% said fear influenced their birth preference and 53.7% said it did not. In our sample, women likely to elect cesarean sections are motivated at least in part by fear. They report both more extreme levels of fear than the group anticipating non-surgical delivery and they more of...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 20, 2020·Journal of Complementary & Integrative Medicine·Ellahe MohyadinZahra Molamomanaei
Jan 28, 2022·The International Journal of Health Planning and Management·Oana M BlagaAlina I Forray

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