MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery and actual delivery mode: Variation by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2017

ISSN: 07307659

DOI: 10.1111/birt.12305

PMID: 28887835

Abstract: OBJECTIVES Researchers documenting persistent racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status disparities in chances of cesarean delivery have speculated that women's birth attitudes and preferences may partially explain these differences, but no studies have directly tested this hypothesis. We examined whether women's prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery differed by race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status, and whether attitudes were differently related to delivery mode depending on race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. METHODS Data were from the First Baby Study, a cohort of 3006 women who gave birth to a first baby in Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2011. We used regression models to examine (1) predictors of prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery, and (2) the association between prenatal attitudes and actual delivery mode. To assess moderation, we estimated models adding interaction terms. RESULTS Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery were not associated with race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Positive attitudes toward vaginal delivery were associated with lower odds of cesarean delivery (AOR=0.60, P < .001). However, vaginal delivery attitudes were only related to delivery mode among women who were white, highly educated, and privately insured. CONCLUSIONS There are racial/ethnic differences in chances of cesarean delivery, and these differences are not explained by birth attitudes. Furthermore, our findings suggest that white and high-socioeconomic status women may be more able to realize their preferences in childbirth.

Url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28887835

Url: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=PMC5687997

Url: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/birt.12305

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Attanasio, Laura B; Hardeman, Rachel; Kozhimannil, Katy B.; Kjerulff, Kristen H.

Periodical (Full): Birth

Issue: 4

Volume: 44

Pages: 306-314

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop