<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00022_s_006"><h3>Background</h3>
<p>Around the world, caesarean section rates have steadily increased over the past few decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on nonclinical interventions to reduce caesarean section rates emphasize educational interventions and support programs.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00022_s_007"><h3>Material and methods</h3>
<p>In this study, we have determined factors associated with adolescents’ intention regarding childbirth options using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The sample was comprised of 480 high school students in Greece who were invited to complete a questionnaire consisting of three sections: a section on sociodemographic data; a section featuring the Adolescents’ Intentions towards Birth Options (AIBO) scale, a recently developed instrument that accesses attitudes and intentions regarding vaginal birth and caesarean section; and a section detailing participants’ awareness regarding reproduction and birth.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00022_s_008"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Multiple logistic regression found that participants’ impressions of vaginal birth and the TPB constructs were significantly associated with intention towards caesarean section. In particular, participants with a negative impression of vaginal birth had a 2.20-fold higher probability of reporting their preference for caesarean section, compared to participants with neither a negative nor a positive impression. Furthermore, participants with higher scores on the “Attitudes towards vaginal birth,” “Subjective norms,” and “Perceived behavior control over vaginal birth” subscales had a significantly lower probability of reporting preference for caesarean section.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00022_s_009"><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the TPB to identify factors that influence adolescents’ preference for childbirth. We highlight the necessity to implement nonclinical interventions to reduce the preference for caesarean section, providing evidence for developing school-based educational programs for a timely and consistency implementation.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Background
Around the world, caesarean section rates have steadily increased over the past few decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on nonclinical interventions to reduce caesarean section rates emphasize educational interventions and support programs.
Material and methods
In this study, we have determined factors associated with adolescents’ intention regarding childbirth options using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The sample was comprised of 480 high school students in Greece who were invited to complete a questionnaire consisting of three sections: a section on sociodemographic data; a section featuring the Adolescents’ Intentions towards Birth Options (AIBO) scale, a recently developed instrument that accesses attitudes and intentions regarding vaginal birth and caesarean section; and a section detailing participants’ awareness regarding reproduction and birth.
Results
Multiple logistic regression found that participants’ impressions of vaginal birth and the TPB constructs were significantly associated with intention towards caesarean section. In particular, participants with a negative impression of vaginal birth had a 2.20-fold higher probability of reporting their preference for caesarean section, compared to participants with neither a negative nor a positive impression. Furthermore, participants with higher scores on the “Attitudes towards vaginal birth,” “Subjective norms,” and “Perceived behavior control over vaginal birth” subscales had a significantly lower probability of reporting preference for caesarean section.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the TPB to identify factors that influence adolescents’ preference for childbirth. We highlight the necessity to implement nonclinical interventions to reduce the preference for caesarean section, providing evidence for developing school-based educational programs for a timely and consistency implementation.

Identifying factors associated with adolescents’ Intention for childbirth

Journal of Mother and Child

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Identifying factors associated with adolescents\u2019 Intention for childbirth"}

Background
Around the world, caesarean section rates have steadily increased over the past few decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on...

Identifying factors associated with adolescents’ Intention for childbirth

Article Category: Original articles

Data publikacji: 22 lut 2023

Zakres stron: 93 - 103

Otrzymano: 19 maj 2022

Przyjęty: 02 gru 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00022

Słowa kluczowe
Adolescents, Attitudes, Vaginal birth, Caesarean section, Theory of Planned Behavior, Educational interventions

© 2022 Dimitra Varnakioti et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Identifying factors associated with adolescents’ Intention for childbirth

Article Category: Original articles

Data publikacji: 22 lut 2023

Zakres stron: 93 - 103

Otrzymano: 19 maj 2022

Przyjęty: 02 gru 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00022

Słowa kluczoweAdolescents, Attitudes, Vaginal birth, Caesarean section, Theory of Planned Behavior, Educational interventions

© 2022 Dimitra Varnakioti et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
Adolescents, Attitudes, Vaginal birth, Caesarean section, Theory of Planned Behavior, Educational interventions