DETERMINANTS OF DELIVERY TYPE SELECTION BY USING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIORS (TPB)

Due to the increasing of cesarean operations in Iran as a health problem، and its effects on maternal mortality، this study aims to determine the prediction of the type of delivery according to the Theory of Planed Behaviors (TPB). This study was conducted by using descriptive-analytic method in the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2013 on 392 pregnant women admitted to the women’s clinics of Baqiyatallah and Najmieh hospitals in Tehran. The data were collected through a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior variables such as knowledge، attitudes، perceived behavioral control، subjective norm and behavioral intention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and also logistic regression. The mean age of the mothers under study was 27. 6 + 4. 5. Out of 392 pregnant women، 218 (58. 1%)، and 157 (41. 9%) had chosen a vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery respectively. Among the factors of the theory of planned behavior، mostly the subjective norm predicts the pregnant women’s making an informed choice (Wald=49. 74). Other effective variables are knowledge، attitudes and perceived behavioral control، respectively. The subjective norm (social factor) was identified as the most effective factor in predicting the informed delivery choice type. Therefore، along with educational programs to promote awareness and correcting the attitude of young women about natural delivery، it is recommended that the specialists including obstetric and gynecologists be encouraged to promote natural childbirth.