Selection of delivery mode and its influencing factors among pregnant women

ObjectiveTo study the selection of delivery mode and its influencing factors among pregnant women.MethodsA total of 2 778 pregnant women getting antenatal examination and giving a birth to a living infant in a hospital were selected for a cross-sectional study.Information on general situation,prenatal examination,dilivery preference,actual delivery mode,and related factors were collected with a questionnaire survey among the pregnant women.ResultsAmong the participants the cesarean section rate was 40.6% in 2006 and 52.9% in 2011,and the cesarean section rate showed an increasing trend during the period.The cesarean section rate in the pregnant women aged more than 35 years,living in unban area,and being overweight was higher than those less than 35 years old,living in rural area,and with normal weight.The main reasons for the pregnant women choosing cesarean section were having pregnancy complications(29.9%)and with a fetus of umbilical cord around neck(17.4%).The main social factor related to cesarean section preference was delivery safety(15.6%).The main reasons for the pregnant women choosing natural delivery were with normal condition in antenatal examination(50.7%)and awareness of less damage and rapid recovery of natural delivery(15.9%).The cesarean section rate was 75.6% among the pregnant women with cesarean section preference before the delivery and higher than that among the pregnant women with natural delivery preference before the delivery.ConclusionThe cesarean section rate is at a high level and influenced by many factors.