Women's opinions about mode of birth in Brazil: a qualitative study in a public teaching hospital.
OBJECTIVE
to describe women's feelings about mode of birth.


METHODS
exploratory descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a questionnaire that had been developed previously (categorical data and open- and closed-ended questions). Qualitative analysis of the results was performed through a context analysis technique.


METHODS
the largest public university hospital in Brazil.


METHODS
48 women in their third trimester of pregnancy.


RESULTS
most women expressed a preference for vaginal birth, as they perceived that they would have a faster recovery. Women who expressed a preference for caesarean section did so because of lack of pain during the birth and the need for tubal sterilisation. The majority of women considered it important to have experience with a mode of birth in order to choose a preference. Complications associated with maternal illness were very influential in the decision-making process.


CONCLUSIONS
these results provide a useful first step towards the identification of aspects of women's feelings about modes of birth. Most women expressed a preference for vaginal birth. Further exploration of women's feelings regarding parturition and the decision-making process is required.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil. kekasai@hotmail.com
Keila E
KE
Kasai
Roseli M Y
RM
Nomura
Gláucia R G
GR
Benute
Mara C S
MC
de Lucia
M
M
Zugaib
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001938:Brazil; D002755:Choice Behavior; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010298:Parity; D036801:Parturition / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000208:ethnology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000208:ethnology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires