DETERMINANTS OF DELIVERY TYPE SELECTION BY USING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIORS (TPB)

Due to the increasing of cesarean operations in Iran as a health problem, and its
effects on maternal mortality, this study aims to determine the prediction of the type of delivery according
to the Theory of Planed Behaviors (TPB).
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted by using descriptive-analytic method in the second half
of 2012 and the first half of 2013 on 392 pregnant women admitted to the women’s clinics of
Baqiyatallah and Najmieh hospitals in Tehran. The data were collected through a questionnaire based on
the theory of planned behavior variables such as knowledge, attitudes, perceived behavioral control,
subjective norm and behavioral intention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and also
logistic regression.
Results: The mean age of the mothers under study was 27.6 + 4.5. Out of 392 pregnant women, 218
(58.1%), and 157 (41.9%) had chosen a vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery respectively.
Among the factors of the theory of planned behavior, mostly the subjective norm predicts the pregnant
women’s making an informed choice (Wald=49.74). Other effective variables are knowledge, attitudes
and perceived behavioral control, respectively.
Conclusion: The subjective norm (social factor) was identified as the most effective factor in predicting
the informed delivery choice type. Therefore, along with educational programs to promote awareness and
correcting the attitude of young women about natural delivery, it is recommended that the specialists
including obstetric and gynecologists be encouraged to promote natural childbirth