Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
Published on: January 27, 2010
Obstetrical providers' preferred mode of delivery and attitude towards non-medically indicated caesarean sections: a
J C Rivo1, M Amyx2,3, V Pingray3
1Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center Greenspace, Durham, NC, USA.
Objective:
To describe obstetrical providers' delivery preferences and attitudes towards caesarean section without medical indication, including on maternal request, and to examine the association between provider characteristics and preferences/attitudes.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Two public and two private hospitals in Argentina.
Population:
Obstetrician-gynaecologists and midwives who provide prenatal care and/or labour/delivery services.
Methods:
Providers in hospitals with at least 1000 births per year completed a self-administered, anonymous survey.
Main Outcome Measures:
Provider delivery preference for low-risk women, perception of women's preferred delivery method, support for a woman's right to choose her delivery method and willingness to perform caesarean section on maternal request.
Results:
168 providers participated (89.8% coverage rate). Providers (93.2%) preferred a vaginal delivery for their patients in the absence of a medical indication for caesarean section. Whereas 74.4% of providers supported their patient's right to choose a delivery method in the absence of a medical indication for caesarean section and 66.7% would perform a caesarean section upon maternal request, only 30.4% would consider a non-medically indicated caesarean section for their own personal delivery or that of their partner. In multivariate adjusted analysis, providers in the private sector [odds ratio (OR) 4.70, 95% CI 1.19-18.62] and obstetrician-gynaecologists (OR 4.37, 95% CI 1.58-12.09) were more willing than either providers working in the public/both settings or midwives to perform a caesarean section on maternal request.
Conclusions:
Despite the ethical debate surrounding non-medically indicated caesarean sections, we observe very high levels of support, especially by providers in the private sector and obstetrician-gynaecologists, as aligned with the high caesarean section rates in Argentina.
Tweetable Abstract:
Non-medically indicated c-section? 74% of sampled Argentine OB providers support women's right to choose.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota