Publication:

The relationship of socio-demographic and reproductive factors with preferred type of birth

Background Caesarean section is increasingly prevalent and in most developing countries it rates over 50 percent. This study aimed to examine the relationship between, socio-demographic, economic and reproductive factors with birth method selection.

Methods In this cross-sectional study 510 pregnant women or women had undergone an elective caesarean section in the absence of any medical indication were selected from individuals referring to health centers or postpartum wards of hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran, from February 2015 to June 2015. A questionnaire consisted of 26 questions, was used to collect data. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed. In order to analyze the data statistical software SPSS 22 was used to perform chi-square and independent t-tests.

Results The findings revealed the mean age of mothers was 26.97±4.5 years and the majority of them (14.3%) had a diploma level. They were mostly housewives (87.3%). There was a significant difference between two groups regarding socio- demographic and economic characteristics (p<0.000), but reproductive factors such as parity, trimester of pregnancy, history of infertility, abortion, fetal abnormality, neonatal death, IUFD, unwanted pregnancy and baby sex were not related to this selection. Midwife and prenatal classes were the main sources of their acquired information (p<0.000).

Conclusions Socio-demographic and economic characteristics are contribute to birth method selection and midwives and prenatal classes are the main resource for giving information about the advantages of vaginal delivery and disadvantages of Cesarean section. Well-designed Studies in this area is very few and further studies are recommended.