Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making
Although evidence suggests vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) leads to fewer complications in subsequent pregnancies, lower risk of maternal morbidity, and fewer cesarean sections overall, VBAC rates in Florida are at 5.5%, notably lower than the U.S. average of 8.0%. This exploratory study...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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University of North Florida
2015-08-01
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Series: | Florida Public Health Review |
Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1171&context=fphr |
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author | Isabella Chan Emily Bronson Allison Cantor |
author_facet | Isabella Chan Emily Bronson Allison Cantor |
author_sort | Isabella Chan |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Although evidence suggests vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) leads to fewer complications in subsequent pregnancies, lower risk of maternal morbidity, and fewer cesarean sections overall, VBAC rates in Florida are at 5.5%, notably lower than the U.S. average of 8.0%. This exploratory study examines the factors contributing to these low VBAC rates through a qualitative investigation using grounded theory. Semi-structured interviews with women and maternity care providers were conducted to explore attitudes, motivations, and experiences regarding VBAC. Findings reveal a distinction between providers' and women's attitudes toward and experiences with VBAC and identify factors involved in decision-making. Three themes emerged: (1) patient-provider interactions; (2) perceptions of risks; and (3) rejection/adoption of biomedical authority. Women weighed the risks and benefits of VBAC through their perceptions and experiences of physical and emotional consequences, whereas providers relied on their experiences with medical practice, legal outcomes, policy, and evidence-based medicine. This exploratory research identifies a critical need for further attention to the disconnects between providers’ and women’s perspectives on and experiences with VBAC to address the tensions between biomedical and alternative forms of birth knowledge better and develop comprehensive VBAC guidelines that integrate the needs and concerns of women and providers. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d02b18260adf45e7bf59f8661e20e2c3 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2643-6248 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-20T02:21:27Z |
publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
publisher | University of North Florida |
record_format | Article |
series | Florida Public Health Review |
spelling | doaj.art-d02b18260adf45e7bf59f8661e20e2c32022-12-21T19:56:49ZengUniversity of North FloridaFlorida Public Health Review2643-62482015-08-01124148Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision MakingIsabella Chan0Emily Bronson1Allison Cantor2Department of Global Health, University of South Florida College of Public HealthLawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, University of South FloridaDepartment of Anthropology, University of South FloridaAlthough evidence suggests vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) leads to fewer complications in subsequent pregnancies, lower risk of maternal morbidity, and fewer cesarean sections overall, VBAC rates in Florida are at 5.5%, notably lower than the U.S. average of 8.0%. This exploratory study examines the factors contributing to these low VBAC rates through a qualitative investigation using grounded theory. Semi-structured interviews with women and maternity care providers were conducted to explore attitudes, motivations, and experiences regarding VBAC. Findings reveal a distinction between providers' and women's attitudes toward and experiences with VBAC and identify factors involved in decision-making. Three themes emerged: (1) patient-provider interactions; (2) perceptions of risks; and (3) rejection/adoption of biomedical authority. Women weighed the risks and benefits of VBAC through their perceptions and experiences of physical and emotional consequences, whereas providers relied on their experiences with medical practice, legal outcomes, policy, and evidence-based medicine. This exploratory research identifies a critical need for further attention to the disconnects between providers’ and women’s perspectives on and experiences with VBAC to address the tensions between biomedical and alternative forms of birth knowledge better and develop comprehensive VBAC guidelines that integrate the needs and concerns of women and providers.https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1171&context=fphr |
spellingShingle | Isabella Chan Emily Bronson Allison Cantor Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making Florida Public Health Review |
title | Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making |
title_full | Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making |
title_fullStr | Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making |
title_full_unstemmed | Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making |
title_short | Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section: Provider Perspectives and Maternal Decision Making |
title_sort | vaginal birth after cesarean section provider perspectives and maternal decision making |
url | https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1171&context=fphr |
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