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

Due to the increasing of the 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 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 logistic regression.
Results: The mean age of the mothers under study was 27.6 + 4.5. Out of 392 pregnant studied women,
218 (58.1%) had chosen a vaginal delivery, while 157 (41.9%) had chosen cesarean delivery.
Among the theory of planned behavior variables, the subjective norm variable can predict the pregnant
women’s 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 to predict
informed delivery choice type. Therefore, along with educational programs to promote awareness and
attitude of young women about natural delivery, it is recommended to encourage and promote natural
childbirth by specialists including obstetric and gynecologists by using legislation and monitoring