Selection of Auspicious Time for Delivery is Associated with Giving Birth Before 39 Weeks of Gestation Among Women Receiving Cesarean Delivery in Taiwan

Tuesday, 31 July 2012: 3:55 PM

Kuei-Hui Chu, RN, MS
School of Nursing, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
Li-Yin Chien, ScD
Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: examine the cesaren rate before 39 weeks of gestation

Learning Objective 2: examine the effect of selection of specific time for birth on delivery before 39 weeks of gestation

Purpose: Cesarean delivery before 39 weeks of gestation increases the risk for respiratory morbidity of infants. Many Taiwanese women receiving cesarean delivery select auspicious time to deliver before the onset of labor. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of selection of specific time for birth on delivery before 39 weeks of gestation.

Methods: This study applied a retrospective cohort design. The study participants were 151 women receiving cesarean delivery who had received prenatal care at 4 hospitals in Taipei and were part of a study recruiting pregnant women without complications during early pregnancy. The study participants filled up structured questionnaires at 20-24 weeks of pregnancy, 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, and 5 to 7 weeks after delivery. 

Results: Of the 151 women, 48.3% delivered before 39 weeks of gestation and 57.6% had selected a time for cesarean delivery in advance. Mean birth gestation was 38.66 (SD=1.28) weeks. Women who selected specific time for delivery were more likely to deliver before 39 weeks of gestation (66.7% versus 23.4%, p<.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that women who had selected a specific time for delivery (OR=5.33, 95% CI: 2.35-12.09), who had disease before pregnancy (OR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.06-9.20), and who had received assisted reproductive technology (OR=10.03, 95% CI: 1.02-98.64) were more likely to deliver before 39 weeks of gestation. 

Conclusion: Health professionals should advise women to deliver after 39 weeks of gestation unless the delivery is medically indicated. Consultations on appropriate time to deliver should be provided with special attention to women who want to select an auspicious time and who had received assisted reproductive technology.