AUTHOR=Tang Yunhui , Gao Jing , Sun Liping , Gao Yifei , Guo Fang , Chen Qi 

TITLE=Promotion of Pre-natal Education Courses Is Associated With Reducing the Rates of Caesarean Section: A Case-Control Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.666337

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.666337

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> The number of women having a caesarean section has significantly increased worldwide, in particular in China. Maternal requestion makes a moderate contribution to this increased rate in China. Reducing the caesarean section rate is now becoming a big challenge to midwives and obstetricians as well as health policymakers in China. Our recent survey found that pre-natal education course had some positive effects on the reduction of caesarean section on maternal request. However, pre-natal education course is relatively new in China. In this study, we investigated whether pre-natal education course influences delivery mode in the largest tertiary women's hospital in China.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this retrospective study, during the study period, 644 pregnant women attended a pre-natal education course and 4,134 pregnant women did not. Data on maternal age, parity, gravida, delivery mode, delivery weeks, birthweight, gestational age at attending pre-natal education course and maternal body mass index before pregnancy were collected and analysed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The numbers of women who attempted vaginal delivery were significantly higher in women who attended a pre-natal education course, compared to women who did not (87 vs. 60%). In addition, the rate of caesarean section on maternal request was 23% in women who attended a pre-natal education course.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Attendance of a pre-natal education course influences the mode of delivery and reduces the unnecessary caesarean section in China. Our findings suggest that the promotion of pre-natal education courses is important to reduce the higher caesarean section rate in China, by midwives or obstetricians or health policy-makers as part of China's strategy.</p>