Trends and correlates of cesarean section rates over two decades in Nepal

Association of Maternal Risk Factors with the Prevalence of Caesarean Section Deliveries: A Cross-Sectional Study

In the last few years, there has been a gradually increasing rate of caesarean section deliveries worldwide that negatively affects both mothers' and children's health. The present survey intended to explore the relations of common maternal risk factors with the prevalence of caesarean sections. This is a cross-sectional study including 5182 healthy mothers from geographically diverse regions of Greece, which has applied relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria. An elevated 56.4% incidence of caesarean sections was noted. The prevalence of caesarean section deliveries was estimated to be 51.5% in private hospitals and 48.5% in public hospitals. Maternal age, pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, excess gestational weight gain, preterm birth, financial status, smoking habits, and private type of birth hospital were considerably associated with a high probability of caesarean section, regardless of several confounders. In conclusion, caesarean section rates are constantly increasing, and various maternal risk factors additively elevate its incidence, which additionally enhances the likelihood of postpartum complications for both the mothers and their infants. Public health procedures and approaches are strongly recommended to notify future mothers of the potential risk factors that may result in adverse pregnancy outcomes of caesarean section delivery, highlighting its use only for emergency medical reasons and also promoting healthier nutritional and lifestyle habits that may reduce the increasing prevalence of caesarean section deliveries.

Cervical dilatation at diagnosis of active phase of labour determines the mode of delivery and peripartum outcomes: a retrospective study in a single tertiary centre in Malaysia

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing trend of Caesarean section rate in Malaysia. Limited evidence demonstrated the benefits of changing the demarcation of the active phase of labour.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 3980 singletons, term pregnancy, spontaneous labouring women between 2015 and 2019 comparing outcomes between those with cervical dilation of 4 versus 6 cm at diagnosis of the active phase of labour.

RESULTS

A total of 3403 (85.5%) women had cervical dilatation of 4 cm, and 577 (14.5%) at 6 cm upon diagnosis of the active phase of labour. Women in 4 cm group were significantly heavier at delivery (p = 0.015) but significantly more multiparous women were in 6 cm group (p < 0.001). There were significantly fewer women in the 6 cm group who needed oxytocin infusion (p < 0.001) and epidural analgesia (p < 0.001) with significantly lower caesarean section rate (p < 0.001) done for fetal distress and poor progress (p < 0.001 both). The mean duration from diagnosis of the active phase of labour until delivery was significantly shorter in the 6 cm group (p < 0.001) with lighter mean birth weight (p = 0.019) and fewer neonates with arterial cord pH < 7.20 (p = 0.047) requiring neonatal intensive care unit admissions (p = 0.01). Multiparity (AOR = 0.488, p < 0.001), oxytocin augmentation (AOR = 0.487, p < 0.001) and active phase of labour diagnosed at 6 cm (AOR = 0.337, p < 0.001) reduced the risk of caesarean delivery. Caesarean delivery increased the risk of neonatal intensive care admission by 27% (AOR = 1.73, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Active phase of labour at 6 cm cervical dilatation is associated with reduced primary caesarean delivery rate, labour intervention, shorter labour duration and fewer neonatal complications.

Trend and associated factors of cesarean section rate in Ethiopia: Evidence from 2000-2019 Ethiopia demographic and health survey data

BACKGROUND

The world health organization considers cesarean section (CS) prevalence of less than 5% suggests an unmet need. On the other hand, a prevalence of more than 15% may pose to risk to mother and child, however, access to CS in a resource-limited country like Ethiopia was much lower than the aforementioned level, Therefore, this was the first study to determine the trend of CS, and factors that influence it.

METHODS

This was done based on the five Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys. Trend analysis was done separately for rural and urban. The significance of the trend was assessed using the Extended Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test. The factors on CS delivery were identified based on DHS 2016 data. A multi-level logistic regression analysis technique was used to identify the factors associated with cesarean section delivery. The analysis was adjusted for the different individual- and community-level factors affecting cesarean section delivery. Data analysis was conducted using STATA 14.1 software.

RESULT

The rate of cesarean section increased from 5.1% in 1995 to 16% in 2019 in an urban area and 0.001 in 1995 to 3% in a rural area, the overall increment of CS rate was 0.7% in 1995 to 2019 at 6%. The odds of cesarean section were higher among 25-34 years (AOR = 2.79; 95% CI: 1.92, 4.07) and 34-49 years (AOR = 5.23;95% CI: 2.85,9.59), among those educated at primary school level (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.23,3.11), secondary education (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.17, 3.56) and higher education (AOR = 4.12; 95% CI: 2.33-7.29)with multiple pregnancies (AOR = 11.12; 95% CI: 5.37, 23.), with obesity (AOR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.45), living in an urban area (AOR = 2.28; /95% CI: 1.35-3.88), and increased with the number of ANC visit of 1-3 and 4th(AOR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.12, 4.58), (AOR = 3.34; 95% CI: 1.12, 4.58), respectively. The odds of cesarean section are lower among parity of 2-4 children (AOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0 .37, 0.80) and greater than four birth order (AOR = 0.42;95% CI: 0.21,0.84).

CONCLUSION

In Ethiopia, the CS rate is below the WHO recommended level in both urban and rural areas, thus, intervention efforts need to be prioritized for women living in a rural area, empowering women's education, encouraging co-services such as ANC usage could all help to address the current problem.

Correlation between Blood Glucose Levels on Niche Incidence after Cesarean Section

BACKGROUND: Long-term sequelae of cesarean section (CS) is formation of niche in CS surgical scar. Blood glucose involved in wound healing process after CS. AIM: This study was to find correlation of blood glucose level with niche in CS patients. METHODS: This research was an observational and analytic study with case series design conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitas Sumatera Utara, RSUP H Adam Malik Medan, and Sundari Hospital Medan Starting from July to August 2022. To assess correlation between variables, eta test was used to assess the correlation of blood glucose with incidence of niche. The analysis results were said to be significant if p < 0.05, with 95% CI. RESULTS: Mean of patients were in 21–29 years (70%), multiparity with 12 patients (40%), aterm gestational age with 30 patients (100%), 16 patients (53.3%) with anteflexion uterus, previous CS 2 times were the majority with 9 patients (30%), and 17 patients (56.7%) were elective CS. Incidence of niche was 63.3%. Triangular were the most found niche with 11 patients (36.7%). Mean of total myometrial thickness, depth of niche, and residual myometrial thickness were 5.23 ± 11.2 mm, 2.44 ± 2.75 mm, and 5.23 ± 11.22 mm, respectively. Mean blood sugar level was 103.3 ± 17.4 mg/dl. From eta analysis, there was no correlation between blood glucose levels post-CS patients using eta test with p = 0.872. CONCLUSION: There was no significant correlation between blood glucose levels on niche incidence in post-CS patients.

Association of geographic distribution and birth weight with sociodemographic factors of the maternal and newborn child of hilly and mountain regions of eastern Nepal: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association of geographic distribution, and birth weight with sociodemographic factors of the maternal and newborn child of hilly region (lower altitude) and mountain region (high altitude) of eastern Nepal as well as the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) and large for gestational age (LGA) among term singleton deliveries in eastern Nepal.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the district-level hospitals of Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Solukhumbu and Taplejung districts of eastern Nepal of Province 1. Mothers with preterm or post-term delivery, multiple pregnancies, stillbirth/intrauterine fetal death and incomplete records were excluded from the study with only 1386 term pregnancies (37-42 weeks) delivered at the respective facilities between 17 July 2019 and 16 July 2020 were included. The appropriate data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2019 V.16.0 and statistical analysis was performed by using the statistical package for social sciences, IBM SPSS V.29.

RESULTS

The low maternal age, Dalit ethnic group, low gravidity, low parity, higher antenatal care (ANC) visits (≥4), incomplete deworming and dT vaccination status, breech deliveries and LBW newborns were significantly attributed to hilly region (lower altitude) (p value <0.05). Similarly, the hilly region, lower and/or no ANC visits and early term gestation had significant negative association with birth weight at the lower quantiles only. Meanwhile, the female newborn had significant and negative association with birth weight distribution at all seven quantiles. The prevalence of the LBW, average for gestational age and LGA newborn child among term singleton deliveries in Eastern Nepal is 6.6%, 85.8% and 7.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The local organisations should focus on adequate antenatal care visits in mountain region and coverage of dT vaccine and deworming medications in hilly region. Appropriate measures and programmes should be initiated to bring down LBW in hilly region.

Investigation of technical quality of antenatal and perinatal services in a nationally representative sample of health facilities in Nepal

BACKGROUND

Access to routine antenatal and perinatal services is improved in the last two decades in Nepal. However, gaps remain in coverage and quality of care delivered from the health facilities. This study investigated the delivery of technical quality antenatal and perinatal services from health facilities and their associated determinants in Nepal.

METHODS

Data for this study were derived from the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015. The World Health Organization's Service Availability and Readiness Assessment framework was adopted to assess the technical quality of antenatal and perinatal services of health facilities. Outcome variables included technical quality scores of i) 269 facilities providing antenatal services and ii) 109 facilities providing childbirth and postnatal care services (perinatal care). Technical quality scores of health facilities were estimated adapting recommended antenatal and perinatal interventions. Independent variables included locations and types of health facilities and their management functions (e.g., supervision). We conducted a linear regression analysis to identify the determinants of better technical quality of health services in health facilities. Beta coefficients were exponentiated into odds ratios (ORs) and reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The significance level was set at p-value < 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean score of the technical quality of health facilities for each outcome variable (antenatal and perinatal services) was 0.55 (out of 1.00). Compared to province one, facilities of Madhesh province had 4% lower odds (adjusted OR = 0.96; 95%CI: 0.92, 0.99) of providing better quality antenatal services, while health facilities of Gandaki province had higher odds of providing better quality antenatal services (aOR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10). Private facilities had higher odds (aOR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.23) of providing better quality perinatal services compared to public facilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Private facilities provide better quality antenatal and perinatal health services than public facilities, while health facilities of Madhesh province provide poor quality perinatal services. Health system needs to implement tailored strategies, including recruiting health workers, supervision and onsite coaching and access to necessary equipment and medicine in the facilities of Madhesh province. Health system inputs (trained human resources, equipment and supplies) are needed in the public facilities. Extending the safe delivery incentive programme to the privately managed facilities could also improve access to better quality health services in Nepal.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Caesarean Delivery in Nepal: Evidence From a Nationally Representative Sample

Background Caesarian sections (CS) are life-saving management for a pregnant mother and fetus subject to obstetric complications. The World Health Organization (WHO) expected CS rates not to exceed 10 to 15 per 100 live births in any country. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CS and its associated factors from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), building on previous studies mentioned in detail in the latter part of the paper. Methods This study analyzed the secondary data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), conducted from June 19, 2016, to January 31, 2017. The survey is undertaken every five years; consequently, the data capture the information in the previous five years from the data collection period. We used the 2016 NDHS, which is implemented by the new Enumeration Area (EA) under the support of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In the rural areas, the sample is stratified and selected in two stages. In the first stage, wards are selected as the primary sampling units (PSU), with households subsequently chosen from the PSUs. In the urban areas, the sample is nominated in three stages. In the first stage, wards are selected as PSUs; in the second stage, one EA is chosen from each PSU, and finally, households are selected from the EAs. Then data were collected from the women in the reproductive age group within the selected households. Results The prevalence of CS in Nepal conforms to the WHO standard with 7.8, 7.5, and 8.1 per 100 deliveries, or 9.8, 8.9, and 9.1 per women's last births in the previous one, three, and five years, respectively. Older mothers of 30 years old or more, having high incomes, being overweight and obese, using the internet, ante-natal care (ANC) visits of more than four times, ANC by doctors, twin delivery, and having babies of 4 kg or more, had higher odds for a CS while having two or more children seemed to be protective towards CS. Conclusion These findings can be used to update health policies surrounding CS delivery to limit unnecessary CS and ensure better health as CS is not without complications.

Cesarean Section in a Maternity Unit of a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction:

Cesarean section is a common obstetric procedure which is done to reduce complications in high risk pregnancies. The aim of study was to find out the prevalence of cesarean section in a maternity unit of a tertiary care center.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 497 pregnant women presenting in a maternity unit of a tertiary center of Kathmandu, Nepal over a period of six months from March to August 2017 after taking ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Ref. 24). In this study, the prevalence of cesarean section, perinatal outcome, maternal and neonatal complications if any were observed. Data and descriptive analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data.

Results:

The prevalence of cesarean section was 171 (34.4%) at 95% Confidence interval (30.2-38.7). Most common indication for cesarean section was fetal distress 53 (31%). The maternal complications developed in 11 (6.4%) among those who delivered via cesarean delivery; Surgical Site Infection being the most common maternal complication. The neonatal intensive care unit admission rate among the newborns via cesarean section delivery was 48 (27.43%) and neonatal sepsis 14 (8%) was most common adverse neonatal outcome.

Conclusions:

The cesarean rate at the study center is higher than standard target rate of World Health Organization. Neonatal and maternal adverse outcome in current study were comparable with existing literatures.