title: Obstetrician perceptions of the causes of high cesarean delivery rates in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess obstetricians' perceptions surrounding cesarean delivery rates in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional descriptive study was performed between May 1 and June 30, 2016. Practicing obstetricians with contact details known by the researchers and those attending a conference in Turkey were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that collected demographic data and information on participants' opinions, beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cesarean delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 100 obstetricians who responded to the survey. Awareness of high cesarean delivery rates was reported by 96 (96%) participants and 95 (95%) respondents said they were supportive of efforts to reduce it. There were 60 (60%), 83 (83%), and 100 (100%) participants aware of associations between high cesarean delivery rates and increased maternal and infant mortality; increased risk of uterine rupture; and increased risk of placenta previa, placenta accreta, and emergency cesarean hysterectomy, respectively. The most commonly reported reason for high cesarean delivery rates was high compensation costs during medical litigation legal proceedings, reported by all 100 (100%) participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants were generally aware of the risks associated with high cesarean delivery rates. The results suggest that the greatest concern among obstetricians who perform cesarean deliveries was malpractice litigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla Sıtkı Kocman University, Merkez, Muğla, Turkey.|Department of Medical Education and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla Sıtkı Kocman University, Merkez, Muğla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Küçük
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Cesarean; High cesarean delivery rate; Litigation; Medical malpractice; Obstetricians; Turkey