TITLE:
Why Do Pregnant Women Choose a Planned Caesarean Section in Burkina Faso? A Qualitative Study
AUTHORS:
Nestor Bationo, Noufou G. Nana, Adama Ouattara, Patrice A. Ngangue, Dieudonné Soubeiga, Ahmed Kabore, Maxime Drabo
KEYWORDS:
Caesarean Section, Maternal Request, Qualitative Study, Tokophobia, Burkina-Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.12 No.5,
May
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: Despite the complications related to the caesarean section, some couples
choose it by desirability. This study aimed to understand the reasons for
maternal requests for a planned caesarean section in Burkina Faso, in the
absence of obstetric indications. A qualitative descriptive study was
conducted in March 2019, consisting of twelve semi-structured interviews with women
requesting caesarean section at Tingandogo Teaching Hospital in Burkina Faso.
The operative reports were also examined. Thematic analysis based on Braun and
Clarke approach was performed with QDA Miner software. Twelve patients
were involved in the study. The mean age was 33 years. The majority had a
higher level of education. Half were employees.
The mean stay duration was 72 hours, with an estimated cost of CFA 300.000
(457,347 EUR). The choice of a planned caesarean was motivated by fear of birth
(tokophobia), the positive feeling associated to the surgical technology, the
doctor-patient relationship and the confidence in the quality of healthcare
services such as reception and hygiene. Maternal reasons for requesting
a planned caesarean section in Burkina Faso are multifactorial. Information,
education and communication and shared decision-making strategies concerning
the different modes of delivery and complications at the end of pregnancy, may
contribute to reducing this problem.