PERCEPTION OF CAESAREAN DELIVERY BY PATIENTS AND THEIR CARE GIVERS IN THE ULTRA SHORT STAY VERSUS THE TRADITIONAL POST OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL, FOLLOWING UNCOMPLICATED CAESAREAN DELIVERY A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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Abstract

Background: Caesarean delivery is the most common major surgical procedure currently done in Obstetrics worldwide and is presently a relatively safe procedure, though there still remains a cultural aversion for it in developing countries like Nigeria. There is therefore a need to examine post-operative management protocols that can reduce length of hospital stay and their effects on the perception of Caesarean delivery by the patients and their significant others/care-givers, following uncomplicated Caesarean delivery.

Objective: To determine and compare the perception of caesarean delivery by patients and their care-givers; between the ultra short stay and traditional post-operative management protocols, following uncomplicated Caesarean delivery.

Materials and Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial done in 3 centres in Bayelsa state, South-South, Nigeria. The Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, and the Diete-Koki Memorial Hospital, Opolo. One hundred and seventy-nine women who have just had uncomplicated caesarean delivery were randomized into the ultra-short stay (90) and traditional groups (89). The women in the ultra-short stay group were given minty chewing gums (menthos) to chew for 2 hours, within the first 6 hours after surgery. They started ambulating and oral intake initiated from 6 hours post-operative (regular diet commenced at 12 hours); and urethral catheter discontinued 6-12 hours post-operative.

Results: There was a significantly more positive perception of caesarean delivery in women who had the ultra-short stay post operative management protocol (X2=19.51, p<0.001), and their significant others/care-givers (X2=21.78, p<0.001), than women who had the traditional protocol.

Conclusion: There is a better perception of caesarean delivery in women who are managed using the ultra-short stay, and their care givers, than in the traditional post-operative management protocols; following uncomplicated Caesarean delivery.

Keywords: Patients, Perception, Care-givers, Significant others, Uncomplicated Caesarean delivery, Yenagoa.

Keywords: Patients, Perception, Care-givers, Significant others, Uncomplicated Caesarean delivery

References