WOMENS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE DECISION PRECEDING THEIR CESAREAN-SECTIONAND THEIR DEGREE OF SATISFACTION

Objective To assess the extent to which women contribute to the decisi on for caesarean section and their satisfaction with the decision and procedure. Design Observational study of women undergoing caesarean se ction who were interviewed using a standard proforma. Setting Universi ty College Hospital, London. Participants One hundred and two consecut ive women undergoing caesarean section. Results The women's perceived reason for the caesarean section agreed with the doctors' reason in 91 cases (89.2%). Only 2/29 women having elective sections stated they h ad no contribution, compared with 22/73 women having emergency section s (P = 0.018, two-tailed Fisher's exact test). Twenty out of 29 women (69%) having elective procedures and 37/73 women (51%) having emergenc y sections recorded medium or more contribution. All women except one were 50% or more satisfied with the decision. Women's satisfaction wit h the operation was high in the immediate post-operative period and re mained so over the following six weeks. Forty-three women (49%) said t hey would prefer an elective section in the next pregnancy given the c hoice. Conclusions Women undergoing caesarean section were well inform ed and took a considerable part in the decision-making process, This s uggests that women's wishes may be playing a role in increasing caesar ean section rates. High levels of satisfaction with both the decision and the procedure itself indicate that caesarean section is an accepta ble method of delivery, particularly when an elective procedure.