A STUDY OF PATIENTS ACCEPTANCE TOWARDS VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN-SECTION

Patients' acceptance towards vaginal birth after Caesarean section (VB AC) was studied in 99 women with previous Caesarean section. Their att itude was strongly related to the chance of success of VBAC. Only 53.3 % of patients would accept VBAC if they were told that the chance of s uccess was 70%. A history of vaginal delivery and a negative feeling t owards previous operation were positively associated with acceptance o f VBAC (p < 0.01), while convenience of elective Caesarean section and fear of vaginal delivery (even although most of them had had no vagin al delivery before) were the commonest reasons for refusal. The major causes of a negative feeling towards the previous Caesarean section we re postoperative pain and a long recovery period. There was no signifi cant negative effect on acceptance of VBAC if the previous Caesarean s ection was performed as an emergency operation for slow progress of la bour or cephalopelvic disproportion.