BACKGROUND: Although Caesarean section (CS) is the commonest major surgery performed in Obstetrics and it has contributed to improved obstetric care throughout the world; there are still concerns about the attitude of rural Nigerian women towards it. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain what is known about CS and the attitude to it among pregnant women attending antenatal care in a rural health facility. DESIGN: Descriptive cross sectional Setting: The antenatal clinic of a semi-urban health facility in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: An interviewer administered semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitude to CS among 401 pregnant women, which included first timers to experienced mothers. Each respondent's level of knowledge was determined using a scoring system and the total knowledge was categorised as inadequate (0 - 49%) and adequate (50-100%). RESULTS: Of the 401 respondents, 376 %(93.8) had heard of CS; 355( 94.4%) were aware that vaginal delivery was feasible after CS; 325( 86.4 %) knew that blood may be required during or after the procedure while only 10(2.7 %) were aware that the woman was required to give consent for CS. The total knowledge score was adequate in 154(40.9 %) and inadequate in 222(59. 1 %) respondents. CONCLUSION: Although majority of the women surveyed were aware and would accept to have CS if indicated, knowledge about CS is still low in our setting. The need for birth preparedness and complication readiness with the involvement of men is crucial to influencing the perception of women in this setting towards CS.
BACKGROUND: Although Caesarean section (CS) is the commonest major surgery performed in Obstetrics and it has contributed to improved obstetric care throughout the world; there are still concerns about the attitude of rural Nigerian women towards it. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain what is known about CS and the attitude to it among pregnant women attending antenatal care in a rural health facility. DESIGN: Descriptive cross sectional Setting: The antenatal clinic of a semi-urban health facility in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: An interviewer administered semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitude to CS among 401 pregnant women, which included first timers to experienced mothers. Each respondent's level of knowledge was determined using a scoring system and the total knowledge was categorised as inadequate (0 - 49%) and adequate (50-100%). RESULTS: Of the 401 respondents, 376 %(93.8) had heard of CS; 355( 94.4%) were aware that vaginal delivery was feasible after CS; 325( 86.4 %) knew that blood may be required during or after the procedure while only 10(2.7 %) were aware that the woman was required to give consent for CS. The total knowledge score was adequate in 154(40.9 %) and inadequate in 222(59. 1 %) respondents. CONCLUSION: Although majority of the women surveyed were aware and would accept to have CS if indicated, knowledge about CS is still low in our setting. The need for birth preparedness and complication readiness with the involvement of men is crucial to influencing the perception of women in this setting towards CS.