TY - JOUR
T1 - Chilean women's preferences regarding mode of delivery
T2 - Which do they prefer and why?
AU - Angeja, A. C.E.
AU - Washington, A. E.
AU - Vargas, J. E.
AU - Gomez, R.
AU - Rojas, I.
AU - Caughey, A. B.
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - Objective: Caesarean section rates in Chile are reported to be as high as 60% in some populations. The purpose of this study was to determine pregnant Chilean women's preferences towards mode of delivery. Design: Interviewer-administered cross-sectional survey. Setting: Prenatal clinics in Santiago, Chile. Population: Pregnant women in Santiago, Chile. Methods: Of 180 women completing the questionnaire, 90 were interviewed at a private clinic (caesarean delivery rate 60%) and 90 were interviewed at a public clinic (cesarean delivery rate 22%). Data collected included demographics, preferred mode of delivery, and women's attitudes towards vaginal and caesarean deliveries. Main outcome measures: Mode of delivery preferences, perceptions of mode of delivery measured on a 1-7 Likert scale. Results: The majority of women (77.8%) preferred vaginal delivery, 9.4% preferred caesarean section, and 12.8% had no preference. There was no statistical difference in preference between the public clinic (11% preferred caesarean) and the private clinic (8% preferred caesarean, P = 0.74). Overall, women preferring caesarean birth were slightly older than other groups (31.6 years, versus 28.4 years for women who preferred vaginal and 27.3 years for women who had no preference, P = 0.05), but there were otherwise no differences in parity, income, or education. On a scale of 1-7, women preferring caesarean birth rated vaginal birth as more painful, while women preferring vaginal birth rated it as less painful (5.8 versus 3.7, P = 0.003). Whether vaginal or caesarean, each group felt that their preferred mode of delivery was safer for their baby (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Chilean women do not prefer caesarean section to vaginal delivery, even in a practice setting where caesarean delivery is more prevalent. Thus, women's preferences is unlikely to be the most significant factor driving the high caesarean rates in Chile.
AB - Objective: Caesarean section rates in Chile are reported to be as high as 60% in some populations. The purpose of this study was to determine pregnant Chilean women's preferences towards mode of delivery. Design: Interviewer-administered cross-sectional survey. Setting: Prenatal clinics in Santiago, Chile. Population: Pregnant women in Santiago, Chile. Methods: Of 180 women completing the questionnaire, 90 were interviewed at a private clinic (caesarean delivery rate 60%) and 90 were interviewed at a public clinic (cesarean delivery rate 22%). Data collected included demographics, preferred mode of delivery, and women's attitudes towards vaginal and caesarean deliveries. Main outcome measures: Mode of delivery preferences, perceptions of mode of delivery measured on a 1-7 Likert scale. Results: The majority of women (77.8%) preferred vaginal delivery, 9.4% preferred caesarean section, and 12.8% had no preference. There was no statistical difference in preference between the public clinic (11% preferred caesarean) and the private clinic (8% preferred caesarean, P = 0.74). Overall, women preferring caesarean birth were slightly older than other groups (31.6 years, versus 28.4 years for women who preferred vaginal and 27.3 years for women who had no preference, P = 0.05), but there were otherwise no differences in parity, income, or education. On a scale of 1-7, women preferring caesarean birth rated vaginal birth as more painful, while women preferring vaginal birth rated it as less painful (5.8 versus 3.7, P = 0.003). Whether vaginal or caesarean, each group felt that their preferred mode of delivery was safer for their baby (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Chilean women do not prefer caesarean section to vaginal delivery, even in a practice setting where caesarean delivery is more prevalent. Thus, women's preferences is unlikely to be the most significant factor driving the high caesarean rates in Chile.
KW - Caesarean
KW - Elective caesarean
KW - Mode of delivery
KW - Patient preferences
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.01069.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.01069.x
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17014679
AN - SCOPUS:33750088422
SN - 1470-0328
VL - 113
SP - 1253
EP - 1258
JO - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
JF - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
IS - 11
ER -