Mothers’ Experiences and Perceptions of Planned and Unexpected Cesarean Sections: A Qualitative Study
Keywords: Elective cesarean, non-elective cesarean, qualitative study, understanding experiences
Leelma Arab
Abstract
Cesarean section is one of the most common surgical procedures in women, representing not only a medical event but also a complex psychosocial experience. This study aimed to explain the lived experience of mothers from elective versus non-elective cesarean sections using a qualitative approach. The present descriptive phenomenological study was conducted in 2023 with the participation of 20 mothers with experience of elective and non-elective cesarean sections from teaching hospitals in Herat. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Data analysis led to the extraction of three main themes: sense of control and agency, conflicting emotional experience, and meaning-making from the childbirth experience. The findings showed that mothers' experiences of elective and non-elective cesarean sections are significantly different. Understanding these differences can lead to the provision of individualized care sensitive to mothers' preferences.
