Attitude Towards Caesarean Section as a Delivery Option among Pregnant Women in Ogbomoso, Oyo State

Abstract

This study explored the attitudes toward Caesarean Section (C-section) as a delivery option among pregnant women in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional design. The target population comprised aged 18 to 45years who registered and are attending antenatal clinic of the hospital for their antenatal care services, estimated at approximately 900. The random sampling technique through ballot was employed in the study, and a sample size of 298 participants was selected for the study which was determined using th Fisher’s formula. Data collection was facilitated through a well-structured questionnaire, which boasted reliability coefficients of 0.73 for attitudes towards C-sections. Statistical analyses, including percentage, standard deviation, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), were conducted at a 0.05 alpha level. The study unveiled that 675 (67.5%) majority exhibited a generally positive attitude towards C-sections. Age groups 18-30 and 31-40 years showed similar attitudes, with a criterion mean of 2.55, indicating a broadly shared positive perspective across age groups. However, educational attainment and religious beliefs were found not to significantly influence attitudes towards C-sections [F(4,291) = 1.473, p>0.05 for education; F(3,292) = 1.936, p>0.05 for religion]. The study concluded that pregnant women in Ogbomoso have a generally positive attitude towards C-sections as a delivery option, with minor variations across different age groups but no significant differences based on educational attainment or religious affiliation. It is recommended that healthcare providers continue educational efforts to demystify C-sections, addressing specific misconceptions and cultural beliefs, and ensure equitable access to C-section information and services for pregnant women across all demographics in Ogbomoso.