‘It’s Not a Weakness’: Lived Experiences, Support Systems, and Emotional Wellbeing in Caesarean Birth among Postpartum Women in Nigeria.

Itoro T  Michael; Turnwait O Michael

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.1994

Authors

Itoro T. Michael Center For Child and Adolescent Mental Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Dr. Turnwait O. Michael Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.1994

Keywords:

Caesarean section, maternal health, lived experiences, stigma, mental wellbeing, Nigeria, qualitative study

Abstract

Background:

Caesarean section (CS) is an obstetric intervention for preventing maternal and neonatal complications. Despite its benefits, CS in Nigeria is influenced by cultural beliefs, stigma, and emotional responses, with limited research exploring how these factors affect women’s experiences and mental well-being after surgery. This study examined the lived experiences of postpartum women who delivered by CS in selected Nigerian health facilities, focusing on emotional well-being and support systems.

Methods:

A qualitative phenomenological design was employed in four Local Government Areas of Ibadan, Oyo State. Data were collected through 11 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions involving 24 women aged 22–49 years who had undergone CS within the previous five years. Purposive sampling was used to ensure variation in age, education, and residence. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically with ATLAS.

Results:

Of the 24 participants, thirteen resided in urban areas while eleven resided in rural areas. Five major themes emerged: (1) Pathways to caesarean delivery, highlighting that decisions were largely driven by medical necessity and often involved joint decision-making with spouses; (2) Emotional responses and mental adjustment, ranging from fear and anxiety to calm acceptance influenced by clinical communication and faith; (3) Sociocultural interpretations and stigma, including narratives that associate CS with weakness or spiritual failure; (4) Support systems and recovery experiences, with strong spousal, family, and respectful healthcare support reported as central to recovery; and (5) Future preferences and advice to others, where many participants expressed willingness to undergo CS again, emphasizing the primacy of maternal and child safety.

Conclusions:

Caesarean birth is more than a clinical procedure; it is a deeply social and emotional experience.

Recommendation:

Supportive communication from healthcare professionals, family involvement, mental health and counselling, and efforts to dispel negative cultural myths around CS are essential to improving women’s psychosocial outcomes.

Author Biographies

Itoro T. Michael, Center For Child and Adolescent Mental Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

is a postgraduate student at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her academic and professional interests focus on mental health promotion for children, adolescents, and mothers. She has experience in counselling, psychosocial interventions, and supporting families of children with special needs, with a growing research interest in perinatal mental health in low-resource settings.

Dr. Turnwait O. Michael, Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg, specializing in reproductive health, demography, and medical sociology. His work focuses on women’s maternal healthcare decision-making and the sociocultural dimensions of childbirth in Africa. Michael has published qualitative research on caesarean section perceptions and is active in promoting contextually informed maternal health interventions across sub-Saharan Africa.

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