MATERNAL MOTIVES BEHIND ELECTIVE CESAREAN SECTIONS
Date
2018-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The WHO recommends a target cesarean section rate of 10-15% of all births.
In recent years, the US has a rate of 30.3% and some other developed countries are
even higher. Scholars have argued that as a result of the complicated and relatively
risky way humans give birth, humans benefit from assistants providing both logistical
and emotional support (Rosenberg and Trevathan, 2002). My hypothesis is that
women who are more likely to elect cesarean section for non-medical reasons do so at
least in part because of unallayed fears and anxieties.
My study investigates women’s birth preferences and attitudes towards birth.
My sample was young, American women who have not previously given birth but
who may in the near future (N = 368). Those who reported a preference for cesarean
section were more likely to be extremely fearful of birth (43.9%) than those who
reported a preference for vaginal delivery (20.6%). 73.2% of the cesarean section
group state that fear is what influenced their birth preference, 9.8% said their fear had
no influence, while in the vaginal birth group 18.9% said fear influenced their birth
preference and 53.7% said it did not.
In my sample, women likely to elect cesarean sections in the absence of
medical necessity are motivated at least in part by fear. They report more extreme fear
than the group anticipating non-surgical delivery; it is more likely that fear influences
their birth decision. This study provides a better understanding as to why women
actively elect cesarean sections and offers productive low-tech and inexpensive ways
to address their fears.
Description
Keywords
Anthropology, Cesarean sections, maternal motives