Patients' attitudes associated with cesarean delivery on maternal request in an urban population.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: To explore patient attitudes related to cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR). STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaires were distributed to patients in mid-trimester. Questions assessed patient demographics, knowledge, perceived risks, and attitudes about CDMR. RESULTS: Three hundred and fourteen questionnaires and 188 written responses were used for analysis. Most patients (95%) did not believe that CDMR was advisable and felt that vaginal delivery (VD) was safer for both mother (93%) and baby (88%). Of patients who did not believe CDMR was advisable, the most common explanations were classified into categories of "normal is better," "risk of complications" (67%), only 1% of this group felt that the decision should be left up to the individual. Of the remaining patients (5%) who supported CDMR, 75% believed that the decision should be left up to the individual. CONCLUSION: The majority of women in our population do not think that CDMR is advisable.