The attitudes of two groups of South African women towards mode of delivery

ObjectiveTo determine whether 2 specific groups of women prefer vaginal or abdominal delivery.MethodsForty-six black and 54 colored (of mixed race, the predominant population group) primigravidas and 59 black and 62 colored multigravidas were interviewed between April 2003 and February 2004 at Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa.ResultsAmong primigravidas, 89% of black women and 83% of colored women preferred vaginal delivery. Among the multigravidas, 86% of black women and 79% of colored women preferred vaginal delivery. Most women believed that they would recover more quickly (65%) and with less pain (32%) after vaginal delivery. Forty-one percent of all women viewed episiotomy as the greatest disadvantage of vaginal delivery, while 43% were unaware of any advantage to cesarean delivery.ConclusionMost colored and black women preferred vaginal over cesarean delivery. A challenge to healthcare personnel is to educate women about both routes.