Perception regarding mode of delivery among affluent women of the society: a qualitative study conducted in the urban areas of Ganjam, Odisha

Background: Increasing rates of cesarean sections worldwide are of global concern, especially among affluent women of the society. In recent years, every woman has their own birthing plan which has become a heated debate issue. Hence this study aims to find the maternal reason for their preference for a particular mode of delivery. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was done among the women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) in the district of Ganjam, Odisha from March 2024 to September 2024 by conducting in-depth interviews. Inductive coding was done and data was analyzed using content analysis. Results: The majority of the study subjects preferred cesarean section over normal vaginal delivery. Maternal reasons for normal delivery preference included safety concerns for the child and superstitious beliefs. Reasons for cesarean preference included fear of labor pain and vaginal birth, safety concerns related to health risk perceptions, negative birth experiences in some, and positive attitudes towards cesarean birth, especially among private healthcare setups. Most women had more than one reason for opting for their preferred mode of delivery. Conclusions: This results suggest an increasing trend of private hospital preference and C-sections, especially amongst women of higher SES. The behavior of providers needs to be closely monitored to ensure that C-sections are performed only when medically indicated.