Factors Affecting Women’s Preferences for Cesarean Birth in a University Hospital

Objective: To determine the frequency of cesarean birth and factors affecting women’s preferences for cesarean in a university hospital. Material and Method: Study was carried out with 72 women in a university hospital’s postpartum service as cross-sectional and descriptive survey study in Zonguldak. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods, Chi-Square, Fisher’s Exact and Student’s t tests. Results: Almost eighty (79.2) percent of women participated in the study were gave birth by caesarean section. Of 26.4% planned to gave vaginal birth, gave birth by cesarean section. There were no statistically significant relationships between types of birth and educational level, pregnancy-related problems, current work status; whereas statistically significant difference was found between types of birth and living places(p=0.04). Half of (47.4%) the women who gave birth by caesarean section stated that they preferred cesarean birth because they are afraid of vaginal birth. Conclusion: Women’s preferences of the cesarean birth were considerably affected by the delivery itself and fear of pain in labor.