Cesarean section in relation to self-esteem and parenting among new mothers in southwestern Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Maternal psychopathology and self-esteem during childbirth may have an effect on maternal parenting self-efficacy.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to asses the self-esteem of newly delivered primiparous mothers who had cesarean section (CS) in relation to their parenting self-efficacy.


METHODS
A total of 115 primiparous women who delivered by CS were compared with 97 matched controls who had vaginal delivery during the same period. They completed the Rosenberg self-esteem scale prior to discharge. They also completed the parent-child relationship questionnaire at six weeks postpartum, together with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale.


RESULTS
The mean score on the Rosenberg self-esteem scale was significantly lower for the CS group, both prior to discharge (p = 0.006) and at six weeks (p < 0.001), than the vaginal delivery group. The mean score on the parent-child relationship questionnaire was also lower in those who had CS compared with those who had vaginal delivery (p < 0.001, OR 4.71, 95% CI 1.75-14.71).


CONCLUSIONS
CS in Nigerian women is associated with lowered self-esteem and predicts poor parenting self-efficacy in the postnatal period. Psychological support and techniques to improve self-esteem and parenting should be incorporated into the management of women having CS.
Loto
Olabisi Morebise
OM
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. bisiloto@yahoo.co.uk
Adewuya
Abiodun O
AO
Ajenifuja
Olusegun K
OK
Orji
Ernest O
EO
Ayandiran
Emmanuel Olufemi
EO
Owolabi
Alexander T
AT
Ade-Ojo
Idowu Pius
IP
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009549:Nigeria; D016487:Parenting; D012649:Self Concept