ABSTRACT
Introduction: A caesarean delivery is a major surgery with risks of severe bleeding, scarring, infections, reactions to anesthesia and long-lasting pain. The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of caesarean delivery at hospitals in Rajshahi city, Bangladesh. Methods: Data was collected from 194 women who delivered at three private and one public hospital maternity wards in Rajshahi city between January and March 2013. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic background of the mothers. Body mass index was computed to determine overweight and underweight status of the women. Results: The prevalence of caesarean delivery at the hospitals studied was 77.3%. Socio-demographic factors and nutrition status that were significantly associated with the type of birth delivery were considered as independent variables in a logistic regression model. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that older women (age z 25 year) were more likely to undergo caesarean delivery than younger women. Women with higher education were more likely to have caesarean delivery as compared to women without formal schooling. Overweight women had a higher likelihood of caesarean delivery than women with normal weight and underweight. Conclusion: The study recorded a high prevalence of caesarean deliveries at the hospitals in Rajshahi city. Age, educational level and BMI status of the women were associated with caesarian deliveries.