[Cesarean sections: who wants them and under what circumstances?].
Brazil has extremely high cesarean rates. Among related factors, it has been suggested that a "culture of cesarean childbirth" (or a preference for this type of delivery) exists among Brazilian women. Our study investigates this notion. Data were collected from September 1998 to March 1999 in two maternity hospitals in Rio de Janeiro Interviews were conducted and hospital records analyzed for a random representative sample of 909 women who had just given birth (454 vaginal deliveries and 455 cesareans). In the interviews, when asked if they had wanted to have a cesarean, 75.5% replied in the negative, thus indicating that these women cannot be considered as adhering to a "culture of cesarean sections" The main complaints against cesareans were: slower and more difficult recovery (39.2%) and greater pain and suffering (26.8%). However, 17% of the sample had at some point requested a cesarean, 75% of whom during labor. Analysis revealed that the request for a cesarean section is directly proportional to time between admission to the hospital and delivery. This suggests that (in addition to being the usual means of access to tubal ligation) the actual circumstances of birthing are important factors in Brazilian women s requests for cesarean sections.
Núcleo de Gênero e Saúde, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brasil. gpbarbosa@zipmail.com.br
Gisele Peixoto
GP
Barbosa
Karen
K
Giffin
Antonia
A
Angulo-Tuesta
Andrea de Souza
Ade S
Gama
Dóra
D
Chor
Eleonora
E
D'Orsi
Ana Cristina Gonçalves Vaz
AC
dos Reis
D001938:Brazil; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors