Birth health beliefs and mode of delivery preferences of nulliparous pregnant women

Objective:The aim of this study is to reveal nulliparous pregnant women's health beliefs regarding the birth process and to examine how these beliefs affect their preferences for the mode of delivery. By doing so, it is intended to contribute to health professionals and policy makers by providing support and information that better align with pregnant women's needs and preferences. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between October 15, 2024, and January 15, 2025, in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Medical Faculty. A total of 384 nulliparous pregnant women participated in the study. Data were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire, which included socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics of the participants as well as the Cesarean Intention Scale (CIS) and the Birth Health Belief Scale (BHBS). The SPSS 26 software package was used for statistical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the participants, 67.7% (n=260) preferred normal (vaginal) birth, 28.12% (n=108) preferred cesarean, and 4.2% (n=16) were undecided. The mean subscale scores of the BHBS were examined according to the participants' preferred mode of delivery. A statistically significant difference was found between the preferred modes of delivery and all BHBS subscales (p<0.05). There were also statistically significant relationships between the BHBS subscales and the CIS (p<0.05). A negative correlation was found between the Self-Efficacy and Motivation Perception subscale and the total score of the CIS (r=-0.487; p<0.05). There was a negative and significant correlation between the Perceived Benefit subscale and the CIS total score (r=-0.377; p<0.05). Positive correlations were observed between the Sensitivity Perception and Barrier Perception subscales and the CIS total score (r=0.543 and r=0.494, respectively; p<0.05). No statistically significant relationship was found between the Importance/Seriousness Perception subscale and the total Cesarean score (r=-0.078; p>0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that pregnant women's health beliefs play an influential role in their preferred mode of delivery. Pregnant women with higher Self-Efficacy, Motivation, Perceived Benefit, and Importance/Seriousness Perception tend to prefer normal delivery, whereas those with higher Barrier and Sensitivity Perceptions tend to prefer cesarean. Accordingly, it is recommended that interventions aiming to positively modify health beliefs be prioritized in birth-related education and counseling services.