Route of birth delivery preferred by mothers and their motivations

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Identify the route of birth delivery preferred by mothers and their motivations. Method: Cross-sectional study with 361 mothers from a university hospital. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire from February to April 2013. Descriptive analysis was performed and the Chi-square test was used to verify association among the variables. Results: 77.6% of the women preferred vaginal delivery and the reason reported by 81.8% of them was easier recovery postpartum; 20.5% believed they took part in the decision-making concerning the type of delivery; 64.5% believed the type of delivery they experienced did not involve risk for themselves, while 21.9% believed it involved risk for the newborn. Statistical association was found between number of deliveries and type of previous delivery with the preferred route of delivery. Conclusion: Women did not have adequate knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of different types of delivery and for this reason were not empowered to exert their autonomy in regard to this decision.