Women's perspectives on caesarean section recovery, infection, and the PREPS trial: a qualitative study
Women's perspectives on caesarean section recovery, infection, and the PREPS trial: a qualitative study
Objective
This study examined women's experiences of recovery and infection (prevention) after caesarean birth. Further, it sought women's views on the PREPS (Vaginal Preparation at caesarean section to Reduce Endometritis and Prevent Sepsis – a feasibility study of chlorhexidine gluconate) Trial.
Design
Qualitative; using focus groups and telephone interviews.
Methods
Two focus groups and six telephone interviews were carried out between September and October 2017 with a total of 21 women who had undergone caesarean sections in the preceding six months. Focus groups and individual telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim; a thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO 11.
Results
Women's priorities in relation to recovery from caesarean births centred on pain (or the lack thereof), mobility (walking and/or driving) and the ability to resume caregiving and everyday activities. Many reported not knowing ‘what's normal’ in relation to wound healing and did not feel confident in their ability to identify signs of infection. Prevention of womb infection is a major goal of the PREPS trial, however, the majority of participants were not aware that womb (as opposed to wound) infection was a possibility post caesarean birth. While many participants reported receiving some information regarding recovery and infection of varied quality, the majority reported that advice given post-surgery was difficult to recall.
Conclusion
Additional strategies are needed to educate women regarding the signs and symptoms of infection after a caesarean section. Women post-caesarean section expressed the need for additional written information. They would overwhelmingly support research in this area
Dam, Rinita
d4d3739f-ce86-4dc9-b5cf-7e23ec52396f
19 April 2018
Dam, Rinita
d4d3739f-ce86-4dc9-b5cf-7e23ec52396f
Dam, Rinita
(2018)
Women's perspectives on caesarean section recovery, infection, and the PREPS trial: a qualitative study.
British Maternal & Fetal Medicine Society 20th Annual Conference 2018, , Brighton, United Kingdom.
19 - 20 Apr 2018.
(doi:10.1111/1471-0528.15190).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Poster)
Abstract
Objective
This study examined women's experiences of recovery and infection (prevention) after caesarean birth. Further, it sought women's views on the PREPS (Vaginal Preparation at caesarean section to Reduce Endometritis and Prevent Sepsis – a feasibility study of chlorhexidine gluconate) Trial.
Design
Qualitative; using focus groups and telephone interviews.
Methods
Two focus groups and six telephone interviews were carried out between September and October 2017 with a total of 21 women who had undergone caesarean sections in the preceding six months. Focus groups and individual telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim; a thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO 11.
Results
Women's priorities in relation to recovery from caesarean births centred on pain (or the lack thereof), mobility (walking and/or driving) and the ability to resume caregiving and everyday activities. Many reported not knowing ‘what's normal’ in relation to wound healing and did not feel confident in their ability to identify signs of infection. Prevention of womb infection is a major goal of the PREPS trial, however, the majority of participants were not aware that womb (as opposed to wound) infection was a possibility post caesarean birth. While many participants reported receiving some information regarding recovery and infection of varied quality, the majority reported that advice given post-surgery was difficult to recall.
Conclusion
Additional strategies are needed to educate women regarding the signs and symptoms of infection after a caesarean section. Women post-caesarean section expressed the need for additional written information. They would overwhelmingly support research in this area
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More information
Published date: 19 April 2018
Venue - Dates:
British Maternal & Fetal Medicine Society 20th Annual Conference 2018, , Brighton, United Kingdom, 2018-04-19 - 2018-04-20
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 509584
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509584
PURE UUID: eafc5ce4-982e-4cee-8272-2823a059d50b
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Date deposited: 25 Feb 2026 18:03
Last modified: 26 Feb 2026 03:16
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Author:
Rinita Dam
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