Indications and Trends of Caesarean Section at ATertiary Hospital in South-south Nigeria

Abstract

This 3-year retrospective study was carried out at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo. The aim was to determine the incidence, indications and trends of Caesarean section in the center. The case files of all patients that were delivered by Caesarean section between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2006 were reviewed. There were a total of 2,851 deliveries out of which 700 were by Caesarean section resulting in a Caesarean section rate of 24.5%. Majority of the patients (51.3%) were between 20-29 years, 56.6% were multiparous and 84.4% were booked patients. Elective Caesarean section accounted for 27.4% of the operations while 72.6% were performed as emergencies. Foetal distress (37.4%) was the most common indication for the emergency procedures, while two or more previous Caesarean sections (35.4%) was the most common indication for the elective Caesarean deliveries. The still birth rate was 87/1000 while the maternal mortality rate was 1,700/100,000. There is need to introduce electronic monitoring of the fetal heart rate and equipments for fetal blood sampling in labour in all our tertiary health facilities. Multi-centered trials evaluating the success of vaginal birth after two previous Caesarean deliveries in our country and regular audits of Caesarean sections in our health facilities are also advocated.

Key words: Caesarean section, indications and trends, Uyo