Preferred ways of giving birth in non-pregnant and pregnant nulliparous women: the role of control beliefs

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the association between delivery-specific, health-related control beliefs and preferred ways of delivery in nulliparous Hungarian women. Moreover, since data about the delivery-specific control beliefs and delivery-related preferences of non-pregnant nulliparous women are lacking, the present study also seeks to provide descriptive information in this regard. Methods: A total of 984 Hungarian nulliparous women (26.45 ± 5.42 years; 660/77.2% non-pregnant and 224/22.8% pregnant) were included in the present study. The online assessment included measures of delivery-specific (internal-, healthcare professional-, and chance-related) health control beliefs, fears of childbirth, self-esteem, as well as preferences regarding delivery setting (i.e. spontaneous vaginal birth in hospital, planned cesarean birth and home birth). Results: Healthcare professional-related control beliefs were associated with a stronger preference for spontaneous vaginal birth in hospital (OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.56–2.23) and planned cesarean birth (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.60–2.40), alongside a weaker preference for home birth (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.25–0.39). In contrast, internal delivery-specific control beliefs predicted a weaker preference for planned cesarean (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.55–0.78) and a stronger preference for home birth (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.33–2.00). A general preference index for medicalized ways of delivery was negatively associated with internal–and positively with healthcare professional–and chance-related control beliefs (βs = −.173,.074 and.445, respectively). Conclusions: Delivery-related control beliefs are important psychological characteristics in the prediction of preferences for ways of delivery. Understanding delivery-specific control beliefs may be an important component of supporting women to give birth in a mentally and physically healthy way.