The differences between pregnant women who request elective caesarean and those who plan for vaginal birth based on Health Belief Model.
BACKGROUND
Although vaginal birth is the safest type of childbirth, sometimes caesarean is necessary for the safety of the mother or the infant. The problem is that low-risk, healthy women are choosing caesarean as a birth option despite the fact that it is fraught with possible complications.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the differences and identify the predictors for the way women plan their childbirth based on Health Belief Model.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bandar abbas city, Iran, from May to October 2015. The study recruited eligible women who self identified themselves as requesting a caesarean or vaginal birth in their response to a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Of 470 recruited women, 183 (38.9%) planned to have a caesarean without medical indication. Maternal characteristics (age, level of education, occupational status, involvement in a medical profession, and household income) and obstetric variables (health provider type, place of prenatal care, and the number of children planned for the future) influenced the decisions made by the women. There was a significant difference between women planning a caesarean and those planning vaginal birth in terms of childbirth knowledge. Significant differences were observed regarding maternal self-efficacy, with women planning a caesarean reporting significantly lower self-efficacy than women planning a vaginal birth. Women planning a caesarean birth were also significantly less likely to perceive themselves as being at risk for caesarean-related side effects than women planning a vaginal birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive childbirth knowledge can lead to positive maternal attitude towards vaginal birth and may improve birth confidence.
Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Darsareh
Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Electronic address: teaghamolaei@gmail.com.
Teamur
T
Aghamolaei
Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Minoo
M
Rajaei
Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Abdoulhossain
A
Madani
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Shahram
S
Zare
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Birth options; Elective caesarean; Health Belief Model; Maternal request; Vaginal birth