Caesarean section on maternal request – from different perspectives

Description

More and more women in Sweden want to give birth by caesarean section, even if there are no medical reasons. So-called caesarean sections at maternal request are discussed from many perspectives as they require extra resources from the healthcare system and can involve short- and long-term risks for mother and child in comparison to vaginal births. At the same time, the risk of pelvic floor injuries is reduced and women's right to self-determination over their bodies is strengthened, making this a complex ethical issue.

The overall aim of the project is to investigate caesarean sections on the mother's wishes from different perspectives. A study of guidelines for caesarean sections based on the mother's wishes at all Swedish maternity wards has been carried out. The project includes five further sub-studies with questionnaires to women, interviews with stakeholders and observations of clinical rounds.