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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Beate Schücking, MD¹, Claudia Hellmers, Dr phil¹, and Birgit Reime, ScD MPH². (1) FB 08/Gesundheitswissenschaften, Maternal Health, University of Osnabrueck, Albrechtstraße 28, Osnabrueck, 49069, Germany, +495419692452, Beate.Schücking@uni-osnabrueck.de, (2) Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement, Child and Family Research Institute, E414A - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada

Objective: Are increasing C-Section rates due to the fact that women wish to be delivered by elective CS? The purpose of this study was to evaluate which mode of delivery first mothers in Germany prefer, at which time they come to their decision and how this desire is related to topics of Public Health like maternal Well-Being.

Methods and Sample: Time series design data analysis of a convenience cohort study. A self-administered prenatal questionnaire was given to primigravid women (n=366), followed by a postpartum questionnaire 7 to 18 weeks after birth (telephonic interview with 342 women).

Results: 3,8% of the women wish to have a CS. There is a significant correlation between the choice of way of birth and the week of pregnancy in which the women make their decision (n=323, r=0.47, p<.001).Women with a low Well-being Score locate themselves significantly stronger in the direction of a Caesarean compared to women with a high Well-being Score (n=366, T=2.10, df=79, p<.04).The results show a significant correlation between the choice of mode of delivery and the Sense of Coherence (n=341, r=-0.13, p<.02). About 60% of women who prefer a CS actually are delivered by CS (p<.001).

Conclusion: Women's request for a C-section appears to have only little impact on the increasing CS rates.Health professionals should provide counseling on mode of delivery early in pregnancy. Maternal Well-Being might be considered as an indicator of strength in the general context of maternity.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Recognize the relationship of women's request for a C-Section and topics of public health.
• Describe primiparous preferred mode of delivery and the relevance of subjective factors.
• Discuss the level of relevance the results may have for health professionals.

Keywords: Maternal Well-Being, Maternal Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered