Journal of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement

Journal of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement

Assessment of Primiparous Pregnant Women's Knowledge about the Complications of Cesarean Section among Mothers Referred to Health Centers in Ardabil County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Shahla Farzipour 1
Zahra Asdagh 1
Faranak Jalilvand 1
Firouz Amani 2
Shayan Moutab movahedi 3
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
2 Department of Social Medicine & Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
3 Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22038/psj.2026.92990.1513
Abstract
Introduction:
The increasing rate of cesarean section is a major public health concern. Despite its benefits in specific conditions, this method leads to increased complications such as infection, bleeding, thromboembolism, and neonatal problems. In Iran, the cesarean rate has been reported to be 3 to 4 times higher than the WHO standard. Lack of sufficient knowledge and incorrect attitudes of pregnant women towards cesarean complications are important reasons for the unnecessary choice of this method, which further reveals the necessity of investigating the knowledge level of this group. To determine the level of knowledge about cesarean section complications among primiparous pregnant women in Ardabil County.
Materials and Methods:
This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 398 primiparous pregnant women referred to Ardabil health centers. Multi-stage cluster sampling was performed. The research tool was an 18-item questionnaire to assess knowledge. A correct answer received one point, and an incorrect or "I don't know" answer received zero points. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 21, using Spearman's correlation, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and logistic regression tests.
Results:
The mean knowledge score of women was 11.38 ± 2.67. A significant relationship was observed between knowledge and education, occupation, income, and prenatal education, but no significant relationship was found between knowledge and age or gestational age. According to logistic regression, prenatal education was a predictor of knowledge.
Conclusion:
The study concludes that knowledge levels are insufficient. Implementing targeted prenatal educational programs is crucial to increase awareness and reduce unnecessary cesarean sections.
Keywords
Cesarean Section
Primiparous Pregnant Women
Knowledge
Subjects
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Journal of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement
Volume 14, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 97-106