Caesarean section on demand: a hospital-based study

Authors

  • Mahvish Qazi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASCOMS Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
  • Najmus Saqib Department of Pediatrics, GMC Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184119

Keywords:

Cesarean delivery, Maternal request, Painless labor

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to find out the reasons behind healthy women preferring cesarean section (CS) in the absence of obstetric and medical indications.

Methods: This was a prospective study among women who came for delivery at ASCOMS, Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), India a tertiary level teaching hospital. All women who underwent caesarean delivery for maternal request were included in this study.

Results: The total number of deliveries during the study period (9 months) were 889. There were 636 (71.54%) vaginal deliveries and 253 (28.46%) CSs. Among 253 CSs, 25 (9.88%) had maternal request as their indication. Majority 13 (52%) of them were in the age group of 20 - 25 years. Multigravida opted for CS more than primigravida (17 versus 8). Most 10 (40%) of them were Graduates and 15 (60%) were working. Majority of them 13 (52%) were in class II socioeconomic status of Kuppuswamy’s scale. The various reasons for women requesting cesarean delivery were refusal of vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC), simultaneous tubectomy, painless delivery, prolonged infertility, afraid of neonatal outcome and astrological concerns.

Conclusions: Most of the women who opted for cesarean delivery in our study was for preventable reasons like painless labor, previous negative birth experience and simultaneous tubectomy which would have been avoided by prior counseling starting from antenatal period and by providing labor analgesia. Proper education of the patient and personal involvement of the treating obstetrician in counselling the patient and her supporters can reduce cesarean delivery for maternal request.

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Published

2018-09-26

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Original Research Articles