Knowledge and Attitude among Pregnant Women towards Caesarean Section at Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Caesarean Section (CS) is beneficial when the baby must be born earlier than the anticipated date of delivery and it is critical to save lives in situations where vaginal deliveries pose risks to neonates or both neonates and mothers, so for potential mothers and their partners to choose a birth technique, CS is an important choice for the safety of both the mother and the unborn child. This study’s primary goal was to assess the knowledge and attitude among pregnant women towards caesarean section in Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern region of Ghana. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was employed using 203 prenatal and postnatal women, including pregnant women above the age of 15 years who were seen at ANC in Tamale Teaching Hospital. A well-structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data, the data was analysed using SPSS and displayed using tables and charts. Results: Majority of respondents, 97.5% (198 individuals) reported that they had heard of caesarean section. This high level of awareness suggests that the term Cesarean section is widely recognized among the surveyed group. A significant majority of respondents, nearly 80% (162 individuals), expressed their agreement that CS does not affect future fertility, indicating a generally positive attitude towards the procedure in this context. The results also revealed that, a substantial proportion of respondents expressed negative views regarding CS for instance,18.2% of respondents indicated agreement with the statement that “CS is an abomination” and 21.6% also agreed with the statement that women who delivered by CS have a tag of not being a real woman. These findings suggest that a significant portion of the surveyed women hold unfavorable perceptions of CS, highlighting potential misconceptions or stigma associated with this medical procedure. Conclusion: The study achieved a 100% response rate and found that 97.5% of the respondents had good knowledge about CS with nearly 80% having positive attitude towards the procedure. To improve the acceptance of CS, women attending ANC visits should be educated on the birthing process and the medical options available.