C-section on maternal request: perception of 150 medical students

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the opinions of medical students regarding C-sections at maternal request. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study was conducted. A simple random sample of 150 medical students was selected halfway through their obstetrics rotation. A closed-ended survey was administered, collecting information on age, gender, and a fundamental question: “In the case of your own or your partner’s pregnancy, which delivery method would you prefer: vaginal birth or C-section?”. Those who chose C-section were asked to select the three main reasons for their decision from a predefined list of nine options. Chi-square statistical analysis was used to assess associations. Results: A total of 63% of the group favored C-section delivery on request, with a higher prevalence among female participants (58.9%). The three most common reasons for choosing a C-section were fear of labor pain, fear of episiotomy, and the desire to avoid pelvic floor disorders. Conclusions: Maternal-requested C-sections were more accepted among both genders, with a slightly higher preference observed in women.