[Sectio at maternal request among nulliparous women].
BACKGROUND
While multiparous women, who wish for planned Caesarean, indicating "maternal request" (MRS), often do so due to previous natal complications, our knowledge of why more nulliparous (P0) wish for MRS is sparse. The aim of the study was to illuminate reasons why an increasing proportion of P0 want MRS.


METHODS
The study was a questionnaire-based case-control survey. The case group comprised P0s, who gave birth by planned Caesarean in 2005 and 2006, and who were coded as MRS. The control group comprised P0s, having vaginal delivery in the same period and matched 1:1 with regard to age, birth region, year of birth and birth weight. Questionnaires were sent to 285 cases and 307 controls.


RESULTS
A total of 86% of cases and 90% of controls returned the questionnaire. After exclusion, 191 cases and 268 controls were entered into the data analysis. In the questionnaire, a number of specific reasons for choosing MRS could be weighed by attribution of five scores. Amongst cases, concern for the child's and own well-being, weighed most. Amongst the controls, pain weighed the most among the same pre-specified concerns in relation to a future vaginal delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
The reasons for MRS are various and composite. The high proportion of women who chose MRS stating concern for the child's and own wellbeing in relation to vaginal delivery indicates that from this particular group a number of women could be motivated for vaginal delivery if they were informed of the actual risks to mother and child in connection with vaginal delivery and planned Caesarean, respectively.
Forstholm
Malene Merete
MM
Medicinsk Afdeling, Roskilde Sygehus, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. maleneforstholm@yahoo.dk
Langhoff-Roos
Jens
J
Lidegaard
Øjvind
Ø
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires