Elective caesarean delivery at maternal request: a preliminary study of motivations influencing women's decision-making.
BACKGROUND
There is an extensive literature concerning caesarean section at maternal request, where no obstetric indication exists, yet little information about what motivates women to request such a delivery.


OBJECTIVE
This paper aims to ask women who had undergone maternal-request primary elective caesarean delivery about the reasons for their choice, their level of satisfaction with the delivery and their future childbearing plans.


METHODS
Anonymous postal survey of women who have undergone maternal-request primary caesarean section in private maternity hospitals in the eastern states of Australia.


RESULTS
The response rate was 68%, and 78 completed surveys were included in the study. The most common reason given was, 'I was concerned about risks to the baby' (46%). On a scale from 1 (totally unsatisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied), the mean satisfaction rating reported was 9.25/10 (95% confidence interval: 8.89, 9.60). Only eight respondents (10%) stated an intention for more than two caesarean deliveries.


CONCLUSIONS
Women who underwent maternal-request caesarean delivery most commonly did so from concerns for the baby. Respondents were highly satisfied with their delivery, and few wished for more than two children.
Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia. steve.robson@act.gov.au
Stephen
S
Robson
Alexandra
A
Carey
Rasmita
R
Mishra
Keith
K
Dear
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009042:Motivation; D010358:Patient Participation; D011177:Postal Service; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult