Does counsellor's attitude influence change in a request for a caesarean in women with fear of birth?

Background: the attitudes of two conunsellors towards woman requesting a caesarean section due to fear of birth were identified. One emphasised the ability to overcome any emotional obstacle to vaginal birth('coping attitude'), and the other emphasised that the ultimate choice of mode of birth was the womans' ('autonomy attitude'). Two research questions were asked: (1) What are the predictors of change in a wish for a caesarean and of vaginal birth in women with fear of birth? (2) Does a change from an 'autonomy attitude' to a 'coping attitude' increase the number of women who change their request for acaserean and who give birth vaginally? Methods: the study population consisted of two samples of pregnant women with fear of birth and concurrent request for a caeserean, referred for crisis-oriented counselling at the antenatal clinic, University Hospital of North Norway between 2000-2002. Data were gathered from referral latters, counseling and antenatal, intra- and postpartum records. Findings: a coping attitude of the counsellor was postively associated with change in the request for a caesarean and with vaginal birth. Conclucions: a coping attitude was stongly associated with channge in the desire for a caesarean and giving birth vaginally. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.