Determinants of preference for elective caesarean section in Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: To find the clinical and socio-demographic determinants for Hong Kong Chinese women who preferred elective caesarean section.

Design: Cross-sectional interview survey.

Setting: University teaching hospital, Hong Kong.

Participants: A cohort of consecutive Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women (n=660) attending a government-funded obstetric unit catering deliveries in the New Territories in Hong Kong in 2002.

Main outcome measures: The clinical and socio-demographic determinants of preference for elective caesarean section, in women who could have a trial of vaginal delivery.

Results: The overall prevalence for maternal preference for elective caesarean section was 16.7% (95% confidence interval, 13.8-19.6). The factors associated with preferring elective caesarean section were: previous elective caesarean section (odds ratio=7.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-28.7) and previous emergency caesarean section (3.8; 1.8-8.2). Among nulliparous women, the prevalence of preference for elective caesarean section was 16.8% (95% confidence interval, 13.0-20.6). Conception by in-vitro fertilisation was found to be significantly associated with preferring elective caesarean section in nulliparous women (odds ratio=5.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-26.4).

Conclusion: Previous caesarean section and conception by in-vitro fertilisation were determinants for women preferring elective caesarean section.