Abstract:
The study sought to assess the knowledge, attitude, and acceptability of cesarean
section (CS) among pregnant women in the Cape Coast Metropolis (CCM).
Descriptive cross sectional study design was employed in the study. The study
population was pregnant women in the CCM. A sample size of 384 participants were
involved in the study. The study was a facility-based study, and accidental sampling
technique was used to sample respondents from the health facilities in the CCM. A
researcher generated questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents.
Data was entered into SPSS version 21.0 and descriptive statistics of frequencies and
percentages, chi-square test and logistics regression were used to analyse data.
Majority of the respondents had high knowledge (78%), and positive attitude (89%)
towards CS. Acceptability of CS was low (34%) among respondents. High
knowledge was associated with CS acceptability (χ2 = 6.88; p = 0.032), whiles
attitude did not (χ2 = 0.07; p = 0.79). Religions acceptability of CS (OR = 2.91, 95%
CI = [1.53-5.55], p =.00) was the only socio-cultural variable that influenced CS
acceptability (OR = 2.91, 95% CI = [1.53-5.55], p =.00). Demographic variables such
as ethnicity (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = [1.18-9.07], p = .02), income (OR = 2.23, 95% CI
= [1.09-4.58], p = .03), and parity (OR = 39.5, 95% CI = [1.35-1156], p = .03)
significantly influenced CS acceptability. It was concluded that if pregnant women
have knowledge on CS, they will accept CS if indicated to reduce maternal and infant
morbidity and mortality. It was therefore recommended that there should be ongoing
education at the antenatal clinics on CS and vaginal delivery to update pregnant
women’s knowledge and reduce misconceptions about CS as well as reduction in
maternal mortality associated with delayed labour.
