Association between preferred and documented mode of birth and birth experiences in low- and middle-income countries: a multisite cross-sectional study

Barbara Elyan Edwige Vololonarivelo; Ana Pilar Betrán; Meghan A Bohren; Claudia Hanson; Pisake Lumbiganon; Charles Kaboré; Guillermo Carroli; Camille Etcheverry; Truc Phuong Nguyen; Cristina Lumia; Majda Hamrit; Celina Gialdini; Ramon Escuriet; Quoc Nhu Hung Mac; Alexandre Dumont

Journal article

Association between preferred and documented mode of birth and birth experiences in low- and middle-income countries: a multisite cross-sectional study

Barbara Elyan Edwige Vololonarivelo, Ana Pilar Betrán, Meghan A Bohren, Claudia Hanson, Pisake Lumbiganon, Charles Kaboré, Guillermo Carroli, Camille Etcheverry, Truc Phuong Nguyen, Cristina Lumia, Majda Hamrit, Celina Gialdini, Ramon Escuriet, Quoc Nhu Hung Mac, Alexandre Dumont

Midwifery | Elsevier BV | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2026.104991

Abstract

Rationale and objectives Unmet birth expectations can affect birth experiences and satisfaction with care (BES). In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rising caesarean section (CS) rates may widen mode of birth (MOB) preferences and clinical decisions gaps. We describe matches between MOB preferences and the MOB documented in medical records, and assess whether such matches were associated with BES. Methods We pooled data from two cross-sectional surveys in 32 hospitals in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand, and Viet Nam (QUALI-DEC project). Postpartum women retrospectively reported the MOB they had preferred during late pregnancy. We assessed separately whether women’s preferred MOB m..

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