Experiences of Women and Gynecologists on the Choice of Delivery Method: A Qualitative Research

According to the World Health Organization, the acceptable range for cesarean delivery is only 10-15% of the total delivery. Increased rate of cesarean can increase maternal mortality rate. Statistics from provinces in Iran shows that the rate of unnecessary caesareans is growing in the country. This qualitative research evaluated the comments of 20 mothers who had caesarean section in both emergency and voluntary cases in Mehr, Razi and Imam Khomeini Hospitals and also a group of gynecologists in Ahvaz and Mahshahr (cities in southern Iran). Semi-structured interviews continued until saturation. Information was analyzed by using content analysis with a grounded theory approach. According to this research, mothers had voluntary cesarean because of their fear of vaginal delivery. These mothers thought of cesarean as a safe method for their babies and themselves. On the other hand, the mothers that had emergency caesarean had chosen vaginal delivery in their pregnancy period. Faster recovery after a vaginal delivery has been considered the most important advantage. In addition, physicians implied that the patient's tendency and cooperation were the effective factors in selecting this method. Based on our findings, it is necessary to encourage mothers to have vaginal delivery. In addition, they should be aware of the risks of cesarean delivery and the advantages of vaginal delivery.