Evaluation of parturient perception and aversion before and after primary cesarean delivery in a low-resource country

Abstract

Objective: To determine the perception of and aversion to cesarean delivery (CD) and their determinants before and after primary CD.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey of pregnant women undergoing primary CD (elective or emergency) was conducted in six health facilities in Ilorin, Nigeria. All participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire before the operation and 3-4days thereafter. The statistical analysis included the calculation of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and a logistic regression.

Results: Of the 254 participants, 182 (71.7%) and 53 (20.9%) had an aversion to CD before and after the procedure, respectively. A woman's personal decision was the overriding factor influencing acceptance of the operation. Preoperative predictors of aversion were prenatal admission (OR 2.86 [95% CI,1.07-7.66]; P=0.030) and a history of previous surgery (OR 0.42 [95% CI, 0.24-0.75]; P=0.003), whereas postoperatively a low number of prenatal clinic visits (less than four; OR 3.05 [95% CI,1.63-5.69]; P=0.001) and a history of previous surgery (OR 0.51 [95% CI, 0.27-0.96]; P=0.034) were significant. Postprocedure, 164 (64.6%) women said they would accept a repeat CD.

Conclusion: Patient education, prenatal care, and previous surgical experiences were important in determining women's perception of and aversion to CD.

Keywords: Aversion; Cesarean delivery; Delivery; Low-resource country; Parturient; Perception.