Public release of institutional Cesarean section rates in South Korea: which women were aware of the information?

Abstract

Objective: Public media reports of institutional Cesarean section rates have been used as a tool to reduce unnecessary surgical births. We examined women's awareness of the public release of this information according to socio-demographic characteristics in South Korea.

Methods: The public release of institutional Cesarean section rates occurred on July 7, 2000. Seven months later, from February 7 to 14, 2001, we conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of South Korean women aged 20-49 years (N=505, response rate=57.3%) with a nationwide sample using a proportionate quota and systematic random sampling method.

Results: A total of 228 women (45.1% of 505) were aware of the public release of Cesarean section rates 7 months before. The awareness level differed by age and parity. After adjusting for age and parity, the awareness level was patterned by women's educational attainment and income. Women with low socioeconomic status held a lower awareness level compared with their counterparts. Level of respondent's interest in health related information was significantly associated with awareness of public release. Socioeconomic differentials in awareness were partly explained by the level of respondent's interest in health related information.

Conclusion: Policy efforts to increase awareness of public media reports on institutional Cesarean section rates among disadvantaged women are needed.