title: Predictors of preference for caesarean delivery among pregnant women in Beijing.
abstract: Objective To evaluate factors associated with preference for caesarean or vaginal delivery among pregnant Chinese nulliparous and parous women. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, preference/reasons for delivery mode, and knowledge of delivery complications. Results Of the 450 participants, 85 (18.9%) reported a preference for caesarean section (CS) pre-partum. Compared with women who would prefer a vaginal delivery, nulliparous women who preferred CS were more likely to be: ≥35 years; have no medical insurance; have had two or more pregnancies; have access to only one source of information about birthing options; knowledge of the complications of vaginal delivery and think doctors have no right to decide the type of delivery. For parous women who preferred CS, they were more likely to have had a previous caesarean delivery and live outside Beijing. Conclusions From this study conducted at a large, maternity centre in Beijing, the proportion of pregnant women with preference pre-partum for CS was moderate and their reasons were varied.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Agroforestry & Medicine, Open University of China, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 3 National Centre for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Child, Adolescent Health and Maternal Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000068476:Beijing; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Caesarean section; China; pre-partum; pregnancy; vaginal delivery; women