Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study
Cesarean sections have become increasingly common globally, including in Nigeria. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and experiences of postpartum women who underwent cesarean sections within the distinct contexts of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. In-depth interviews and focus group disc...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
|
Series: | Women |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4184/4/1/6 |
_version_ | 1797239035386658816 |
---|---|
author | Turnwait Otu Michael Richard Dele Agbana Kammila Naidoo |
author_facet | Turnwait Otu Michael Richard Dele Agbana Kammila Naidoo |
author_sort | Turnwait Otu Michael |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Cesarean sections have become increasingly common globally, including in Nigeria. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and experiences of postpartum women who underwent cesarean sections within the distinct contexts of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 24 postpartum women in selected health facilities in urban and rural areas. A diverse sample was purposively selected to capture a range of experiences based on age, residence, education, and cultural backgrounds. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and themes within the data. The findings revealed diverse emotional responses among participants, ranging from relief and gratitude to disappointment and feelings of loss for not experiencing a vaginal birth. Societal pressures and cultural expectations played a significant role in influencing women’s perceptions and experiences of cesarean sections. Future childbirth preferences and support systems, including healthcare provider–patient relationships and community support, were identified as crucial factors impacting postoperative recovery. This study contributes to the understanding of women’s perceptions of cesarean sections within the local context of Ibadan, Nigeria. The findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare practices, clear communication, and support systems to enhance the birthing experiences of women undergoing cesarean sections. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:45:08Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-7ed3c51ed99845fd9956b7fbd06354be |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2673-4184 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:45:08Z |
publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Women |
spelling | doaj.art-7ed3c51ed99845fd9956b7fbd06354be2024-03-27T14:08:45ZengMDPI AGWomen2673-41842024-03-0141738510.3390/women4010006Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative StudyTurnwait Otu Michael0Richard Dele Agbana1Kammila Naidoo2Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South AfricaDepartment of Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, KM 8.5, Afe Babalola Way, Ado-Ekiti 360231, NigeriaDepartment of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South AfricaCesarean sections have become increasingly common globally, including in Nigeria. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and experiences of postpartum women who underwent cesarean sections within the distinct contexts of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 24 postpartum women in selected health facilities in urban and rural areas. A diverse sample was purposively selected to capture a range of experiences based on age, residence, education, and cultural backgrounds. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and themes within the data. The findings revealed diverse emotional responses among participants, ranging from relief and gratitude to disappointment and feelings of loss for not experiencing a vaginal birth. Societal pressures and cultural expectations played a significant role in influencing women’s perceptions and experiences of cesarean sections. Future childbirth preferences and support systems, including healthcare provider–patient relationships and community support, were identified as crucial factors impacting postoperative recovery. This study contributes to the understanding of women’s perceptions of cesarean sections within the local context of Ibadan, Nigeria. The findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare practices, clear communication, and support systems to enhance the birthing experiences of women undergoing cesarean sections.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4184/4/1/6cesarean sectionspostpartum womenperceptionsexperiences |
spellingShingle | Turnwait Otu Michael Richard Dele Agbana Kammila Naidoo Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study Women cesarean sections postpartum women perceptions experiences |
title | Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study |
title_full | Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study |
title_fullStr | Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study |
title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study |
title_short | Exploring Perceptions of Cesarean Sections among Postpartum Women in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study |
title_sort | exploring perceptions of cesarean sections among postpartum women in nigeria a qualitative study |
topic | cesarean sections postpartum women perceptions experiences |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4184/4/1/6 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT turnwaitotumichael exploringperceptionsofcesareansectionsamongpostpartumwomeninnigeriaaqualitativestudy AT richarddeleagbana exploringperceptionsofcesareansectionsamongpostpartumwomeninnigeriaaqualitativestudy AT kammilanaidoo exploringperceptionsofcesareansectionsamongpostpartumwomeninnigeriaaqualitativestudy |