The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth

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dc.contributor.advisorSwartz, Sallyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLappeman, Mauraen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-11T14:18:08Z
dc.date.available2015-02-11T14:18:08Z
dc.date.issued2011en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractA growing number of women in the private health sector are choosing to have elective caesareans in South Africa. This dissertation explores the motivations influencing women who choose an elective caesarean section (CS) for non-health reasons. Qualitative research describing factors influencing pregnant women’s decisions in South Africa is limited and inconclusive (Chadwick, 2007). Thus, most of the literature that was examined was internationally based .The literature review highlights how technology has given us more options and better care when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. With the medicalisation of childbirth, however, obstetricians have more power and control in a woman’s life and therefore might directly influence the choices she makes. This study considered 10 South African women’s narratives of their decision-making process in deciding to have an elective CS. On average, it had been approximately 2 years from the time when the women had the elective caesarean section. As the aim of the study was to hear how the women positioned themselves in their stories, the researcher’s interventions were limited to a minimum through semi-structured interviews. The data was transcribed and the use of narrative analysis was employed to evaluate the data. This dissertation interrogated the word ‘elective’ in the context of a medicalised childbirth. The narrative structure highlighted how the obstetrician was a crucial decision maker for the women by either the language they used which conjured up images of fear or by simply portraying the elective CS as a rescuer for the pregnant women from her own ‘unruly’ body. All the women had chosen to place their trust in their obstetrician and the medical technology involved in childbirth. The choice of how they would deliver was handed over to the doctor from their first appointment. Elective CS are becoming an accepted cultural norm within the private health sector in South Africa. Women ultimately choosing CS see their bodies as a vessel for a healthy baby and that how the baby enters the world is less significant. Through the exploration, these 10 women’s doctors emphasized vaginal birth’s complications and underplayed its benefits. On the other hand, the best elements of CS are communicated and advocated and the worst underemphasised. Elective CS rate will continue to increase as long as women see it as their obstetrician’s choice in having a healthy baby.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationLappeman, M. (2011). <i>The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12463en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationLappeman, Maura. <i>"The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12463en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationLappeman, M. 2011. The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Lappeman, Maura AB - A growing number of women in the private health sector are choosing to have elective caesareans in South Africa. This dissertation explores the motivations influencing women who choose an elective caesarean section (CS) for non-health reasons. Qualitative research describing factors influencing pregnant women’s decisions in South Africa is limited and inconclusive (Chadwick, 2007). Thus, most of the literature that was examined was internationally based .The literature review highlights how technology has given us more options and better care when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. With the medicalisation of childbirth, however, obstetricians have more power and control in a woman’s life and therefore might directly influence the choices she makes. This study considered 10 South African women’s narratives of their decision-making process in deciding to have an elective CS. On average, it had been approximately 2 years from the time when the women had the elective caesarean section. As the aim of the study was to hear how the women positioned themselves in their stories, the researcher’s interventions were limited to a minimum through semi-structured interviews. The data was transcribed and the use of narrative analysis was employed to evaluate the data. This dissertation interrogated the word ‘elective’ in the context of a medicalised childbirth. The narrative structure highlighted how the obstetrician was a crucial decision maker for the women by either the language they used which conjured up images of fear or by simply portraying the elective CS as a rescuer for the pregnant women from her own ‘unruly’ body. All the women had chosen to place their trust in their obstetrician and the medical technology involved in childbirth. The choice of how they would deliver was handed over to the doctor from their first appointment. Elective CS are becoming an accepted cultural norm within the private health sector in South Africa. Women ultimately choosing CS see their bodies as a vessel for a healthy baby and that how the baby enters the world is less significant. Through the exploration, these 10 women’s doctors emphasized vaginal birth’s complications and underplayed its benefits. On the other hand, the best elements of CS are communicated and advocated and the worst underemphasised. Elective CS rate will continue to increase as long as women see it as their obstetrician’s choice in having a healthy baby. DA - 2011 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2011 T1 - The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth TI - The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12463 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12463
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationLappeman M. The exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirth. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2011 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12463en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClinical Psychologyen_ZA
dc.titleThe exploration of elective Caesarian sections as a choice around childbirthen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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