Background and purpose: Childbirth is one of the most challenging events in a married woman's life and it has important emotional consequences for each woman. It is also a multidimensional process that has physical, physiological, psychological, emotional, cultural, and social dimensions. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the tendency to choose the type of delivery in pregnant mothers in hospitals of Ardabil Province in 2016.
Methodology: This study is a cross-sectional research that was conducted on 300 pregnant women who were referred to the hospitals for delivery during 3 months in 2016. Data collection tools was a five-part questionnaire including demographic, awareness, attitude, abstract norm questionnaires (other's role) in choosing delivery method, and Behavioral Intention Questionnaire was used in choosing the type of delivery.
Results: Statistically, there was not any significant relationship between level of awareness and type of delivery in pregnant mothers (P = 0.07). The mean scores of attitude in mothers with a tendency to natural delivery were 35.75 ± 14.43, and in mothers with a tendency to cesarean was 46.3 ± 10.96. ANOVA test showed statistically a significant relationship between attitude toward cesarean and type of delivery (P < 0.05). Chi-square test showed statistically a meaningful relationship between the recommendations of acquaintances, mothers, husbands, and doctors with choosing a type of delivery (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Regarding the results of research, especially the positive attitude and high level of awareness in the choice of natural delivery, the promotion of natural delivery will be possible with education.
Keywords: Cesarean; natural delivery; reasons of choosing.