The effect of caesarean section on self-esteem amongst primiparous women in South-Western Nigeria: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess the level of self-esteem of newly delivered mothers who had caesarean section (CS) and evaluate the sociodemographic and obstetrics correlates of low self-esteem in them.


METHODS
Newly delivered mothers who had CS (n = 109) and who had spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (n = 97) completed questionnaires on sociodemographic and obstetrics variables within 1 week of delivery. They also completed the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. RESULTS. Women with CS had statistically significant lower scores on the self-esteem scale than women with SVD (p = 0.006). Thirty (27.5%) of the CS group were classified as having low self-esteem compared with 11 (11.3%) of the SVD group (p = 004). The correlates of low self-esteem in the CS group included polygamy (odd ratio (OR) 4.99, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.62-15.33) and emergency CS (OR 4.66, 95% CI 1.55-16.75).


CONCLUSIONS
CS in South-Western Nigerian women is associated with lowered self-esteem in the mothers.
Loto
Olabisi M
OM
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. bisiloto@yahoo.co.uk
Adewuya
Abiodun O
AO
Ajenifuja
Olusegun K
OK
Orji
Ernest O
EO
Owolabi
Alexander T
AT
Ogunniyi
Solomon O
SO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult