title: Sense of coherence and childbearing choices: A cross sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  as concern for increasing rates of caesarean section and interventions in childbirth in Western countries mounts, the utility of the risk approach (inherent in the biomedical model of maternity care) is called into question. The theory of salutogenesis offers an alternative as it focuses on the causes of health rather than the causes of illness. Sense of coherence (SOC), the cornerstone of salutogenic theory, is a predictive indicator of health. We hypothesised that there is a relationship between a woman's SOC and the childbirth choices she makes in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  the study aims to investigate the relationship between SOC and women's pregnancy and anticipated labour choices. A cross sectional survey was conducted where eligible women completed a questionnaire that provided information on SOC scores, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression (EPDS) scores, Support Behaviour Inventory (SBI) scores, pregnancy choices and demographics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1074 pregnant women completed the study. Compared to women with low SOC, women with high SOC were older, were less likely to identify pregnancy conditions, had lower EPDS scores and higher SBI scores. SOC was not associated with women's pregnancy choices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study relates SOC to physical and emotional health in pregnancy as women with high SOC were less likely to identify pregnancy conditions, had less depressive symptoms and perceived higher levels of support compared to women with low SOC. Interestingly, SOC was not associated with pregnancy choices known to increase normal birth rates. More research is required to explore the relationship between SOC and women's birthing outcomes.
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia. Electronic address: Sally.Ferguson@canberra.edu.au.
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Ferguson
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Davis
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Browne
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D016550:Birthing Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Antonovsky; Childbearing; Salutogenesis; Sense of coherence