Pregnant women's preferred mode of childbirth and hospitals' readiness to support vaginal birth: the case of Cankiri province

Abstract

The present study assessed birth mode preferences among 248 pregnant women at Cankiri State Hospital, Turkey, and found that 50.4% preferred vaginal delivery while 39.1% preferred caesarean section. Most participants (77.8%) were first-time mothers. Maternal age, obstetric history, and gestational age were significantly associated with differences in mode-of-birth preferences ( p < 0.05). The hospital’s readiness to support vaginal birth was also evaluated. These findings suggest that individual factors are associated with birth mode preferences, highlighting the importance of considering these characteristics in maternity care planning. Adapting services to socio-demographic and cultural contexts may improve maternal and infant health outcomes by supporting informed, woman-centered decision-making.