Preference of Ghanaian Women for Vaginal or Caesarean Delivery Postpartum

Abstract

Objective: To determine Ghanaian women’s preferred mode of delivery and opinion of caesarean section after caesarean delivery. Design: A cross sectional study of women who recently delivered by caesarean section prior to hospital discharge. Setting: Two teaching hospitals in Ghana: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Respondents: 154 patients who delivered by caesarean section between the 1st and 31st August, 2003 were interviewed. Of the 154 initiating the interview, 151 completed, and 145 had complete data. Main Outcome Measures: Delivery preference and general opinion of caesarean delivery. Results: The majority of women interviewed indicated that they preferred vaginal delivery (55%). Despite preference for vaginal delivery among these women who had delivered by caesarean section, the majority had a generally positive opinion of caesarean section (53%). Conclusion: Ghanaian women with experience of caesarean delivery prefer vaginal delivery.