Comparison of the Effect of Education Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior with Routine Method on the Intention to Choose Method of Childbirth in Pregnant Women

Childbirth is a completely natural event; however, when the life of the mother or child is in danger, a cesarean section is performed. Due to the lack of awareness of the complications of cesarean section, we are faced with an exponential increase in cesarean; therefore, this research aims to compare the effect of education based on the theory of planned behavior with the routine method on the intention to choose the method of childbirth in women referred to comprehensive health service centers in Mashhad, Iran.

The present study was a field trial that was conducted on 76 pregnant women in 2022. People were selected by two-stage random cluster sampling method and randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control). Data were collected using a demographic and fertility questionnaire and a valid and reliable questionnaire related to the construct of the theory of planned behavior for both intervention and control groups in three stages, before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. The training program for the intervention group was given to people based on the theory of planned behavior in 6 sessions and the control group received routine training. The data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, Fisher's exact, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) model statistical tests.

In this study, the two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic and fertility variables. The results of the GEE model showed that the average score of the variables of awareness, attitude, perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and behavioral intention immediately and one month after the intervention was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

The intervention by the theory of planned behavior has an effect on the choice of natural delivery method; therefore, it is recommended to use these trainings along with pregnancy care in order to reduce caesarean section.