• Zipporah K Kimanthi and Lister N Onsongo.
• Department of Community & Reproductive Health Nursing, School of Nursing Sciences, Kenyatta University.
• Afr Health Sci. 2023 Jun 1; 23 (2): 652658652-658.

BackgroundIn sub-Saharan Africa, 72% of all Caesarean section (CS) births are unplanned compared to 27% of unplanned CS births done in developed countries. Various researches have been conducted on lived experiences following unexpected CS birth but none in Kitui County, Kenya.ObjectiveThis study described the lived experience of undergoing an unexpected CS and the role of cultural beliefs on childbirth among Kitui/Kamba women in Kenya.MethodsA descriptive phenomenology design was used in this study. In-depth interviews of women who experienced unplanned Caesarean birth in Kitui County, Kenya, were conducted. Colaizzi's method guided the analysis. Interviews were approximately 30 minutes long and audiotaped.ResultsA total of 12 mothers participated in the study. Fives themes and 11 sub-themes emerged from this study: fear (fear of disability and surgical complications), pain (physical and psychological pain), less of a woman (lowered self-esteem, powerless and worry), sullied (dispirited and will loss), and fallacy (misconception and effects of fallacy).ConclusionDisruption, dissatisfaction with the birth process, and unmet expectations were negative experiences. Healthcare workers should be sensitive when informing mothers of unplanned CS. More research to look for coping strategies to reduce negative birthing experiences.© 2023 Kimanthi ZK et al.

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