Factors Associated with Attitudes towards the Preferred Method of Delivery in Medical and Non-Medical Female Students

Abstract

Aims: In order to reduce the rate of cesarean section (CS), it is necessary to be aware of attitudes of women to predict their preferred method of delivery and its related factors. This study aimed to compare attitudes of medical and non-medical female students regarding the preferred method of delivery and its related factors in 2019. Study Design:  cross sectional-analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Medical and non-medical undergraduate female students of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, were randomly selected between October 2019 and November 2019. Methodology: We included 1040 students (873 non-medical, 167 medical students; mean age 20.90 ± 1.54 years). The data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential (Chi Square, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal–Wallis, Mann-Whitney and multiple regression) statistics (P =.05). Results: In general, 71.50% of subjects in both groups had a neutral attitude. For group comparison, the medical and non-medical groups (24% and 12.40%) had a positive attitude towards CS and (11.40% and 14.80%) had a positive attitude towards normal vaginal delivery (NVD), respectively. Attitude score according to the university (P =.002), the school (P =.002), the academic year (P =.001), age (P =.031), ethnicity (P =.001), child rank (P =.042), father education (P =.007), mother education (P =.006), childbirth method of the mothers in other children (P =.007), and delivery method of the relatives (P =.05) was significant. Conclusion: Although non-medical students had more possitive attitude towards NVD, in general, in both groups, the majority of them had a neutral attitude towards the mode of delivery. It seems necessary to develop the educational-counseling interventions to form a positive attitude towards NVD in all students and youngs.