The Perception and Attitude of Pregnant Women Towards Caesarean Section

The Perception and Attitude of Pregnant Women Towards Caesarean Section

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Pregnancy is a physiologic state that is expected to lead to a process of delivery within thirty-six weeks (36) of gestation in a normal delivery but due to different reasons such as variation in human body, sizes, races, external factors e.t.c, it can be a very unpleasant experience as women may have difficulties in being delivered of the pregnancy they have carried over many weeks.

Hence, to save the life of both mother and child in some cases, a caesarean section. A caesarean section also known as Caesarean Section is an operation technique by which a fetus is delivered through indications that can either be maternal or fetal. The trend of acceptability and the rate of Caesarean Section has been on the increase in the developed countries in the past two decades. In the United State of America, it has revolved off a 32.8% in 2010 and 2011 (Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ, 2010). Several caesarean sections are sometimes done for justifiable medical and non-medical indications subsequently the rate of C/S in Europe and North America has been increasing (Declercq ER, Sakela C, Corry MP, 2013).

Conversely, in developing countries, the change in the Caesarean Section rate has been dramatic during the same period. This results from the negative perception of the Caesarean Section among women in developing countries. Caesarean Section is still being perceived as an abnormal means of delivery by some women in developing countries, hence the Caesarean Section rate in Sub-Saharan African Countries like Burkina Faso and Niger is as low as 2% (Sunday Adeoje I, Kalu CA, 2011).

Among women in developing countries, Caesarean Section is still being perceived as a curse on unfruitful women and a lot of weak women. In a study among Yoruba women of Southwestern Nigeria, Caesarean Section was viewed with suspicion, aversion, misconception, fear, guilt misery, and anger. (Sunday-Adeoje et al, 2011).

In Nigeria, as in most sub-Saharan African countries, it has been suggested that women reluctantly accept C/S even in the face of obvious clinical indications. Also, negative view and perception of C/S by women in the developing country has led to gross underathizetlien of the procedure compared to the large burden of obstetric morbid requiring resolution by C/S (AzikenMicheal, Lawrence Omo-Aghoja 2010).

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Nigerian has been rated the third country with the highest mortality rate after India and Sierra Leone with over 40,000 deaths of pregnant women in 2012 (WHO 2013).

Unfortunately, despite the well-documented record of safety, the strong aversion of women in sub-Saharan Africa to eh procedure especially in the presence of life threatening indications is a great concern (Awoyinka BS, 2006). Hence the researcher wants to assess the perception and attitude of patients at the antenatal clinic to know if it is accepted or not and the factors that influence their attitudes towards the caesarean section.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

1.3.1 Broad Objectives

This study is aimed at the determination of the possible reasons or factors that influence the perception and attitude of Oredo Local Government women towards the caesarean section.

1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

To assess the perception of Oredo Local Government women of caesarean section.

To determine the attitude of Oredo Local Government women towards Caesarean Section.

To assess the possible factors that influence their perception and attitude.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This study is significant because it will help the women understand the need for C/S especially when a vaginal delivery seems threatening to their health and that of their fetus.

It will also help in debunking their various belief and taboo about the procedure which has been one of the reasons why they have been resistant to approve of it so that the rate of maternal and fetal mortality will be reduced to the nearest minimum.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What is the perception of Oredo local government women about the Caesarean Section?

What is the attitude of Oredo local government women towards the Caesarean Section?

What are the factors that influence the perception and attitude of Oredo local government women towards the Caesarean Section?

HYPOTHESIS

There is no significant relationship between cultural beliefs and practice as a factor that influences the perception of Oredo local government women of the Caesarean section.

There is no significant relationship between the fear of death and complications of surgery is a factor that influences the attitude of Oredo local government women towards C/S.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

This study is done to assess the perception and attitude of Oredo local government women towards C/S and it is carried out amongst the antenatal clinic pregnant women at the central hospital (Oredo local government) between 25th of September and 20th of November, 2014. Women within the marriage and childbearing age (18 – 45 years) were selected as accepted legally under the Nigerian constitution.

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Anesthesia: The state in which one is unable to feel anything especially pain by injecting drugs into the body.

Attitude: The way one behaves towards somebody or something that shows how you think or feel.

Caesarean Section: It is an operative technique by which a fetus is delivered through an abdominal and uterine incision and the indications can either be maternal or fetal.

Dystocia: It implies any form of abnormalities in pregnancy or any deviation from normal during pregnancy.

Knowledge: To have information about something because you have experience or because you have learned it or been told.

Macrosomia: Large babies weighing more than 40kg at birth especially in diabetic mothers.

Mortality: The number of death in a particular situation or period.

Perception: To notice something in a particular way or hold a view about something.

Placenta previa: This is a condition in which the placenta of a fetus lies where the presenting part of the fetus is supposed to come out (the cervical os).