• Kwame Adu-Bonsaffoh, Evelyn Tamma, and Joseph Seffah.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana.
• Afr Health Sci. 2022 Jun 1; 22 (2): 480488480-488.

BackgroundThe preference for mode of childbirth by women is emerging as a global subject of interest to many researchers, especially with the steady increase in caesarean section (CS) rates with some countries exceeding the world health organization (WHO) recommended rate. This study explored the preferences of mode of childbirth and associated factors among pregnant women in Ghana.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women at tertiary hospital in Ghana. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed.ResultsAmong the 415 pregnant women included, 357(86.0%) and 58(14.0%) preferred vaginal delivery and CS respectively. Majority (26%) attributed their preference for vaginal delivery to its being the natural way of childbirth. The most common reason why women preferred to deliver by CS was mainly influenced by medical indication such as doctors' remarks. Significant determinants influencing preference for CS were previous childbirth [aOR:0.21, 95%CI (0.05, 0.91)], previous caesarean [aOR:20.08, 95%CI (7.73, 52.19)] and urban settlement [aOR:2.51, 95%CI (1.01, 6.29)].ConclusionThere was a clear preference for vaginal birth by pregnant women although a significant proportion preferred caesarean birth. Integration of women's preferred mode of childbirth into the clinical decision with appropriate counselling is recommended to improve women's pregnancy and childbirth experiences.© 2022 Adu-Bonsaffoh K et al.

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