ABSTRACT
this study was conducted to determine the Jordanian cesarean rate and to examine the related indications for cesarean section in comparison with some international rates. Setting seven military hospitals of Jordan. patients and methods during the period from January 1997 to December 1998, a total of 44055 deliveries that took place were evaluated retrospectively for mode and conduction of delivery. 4229 cesarean sections were performed. According to the indications, cesarean deliveries were classified into five categories: breech presentation, dystocia, repeat cesareans, fetal distress, and "other". out of 44055 deliveries conducted during the study period, 4229 cesarean sections were performed with incidence 9.6%. breech presentation accounts for 22% of cesarean sections, followed by repeat cesarean section 21.5%, dystocia 19.5%, fetal distress 14% and the category "other" 23%. the study showed a lower cesarean rate in Jordan as compared with the international rates, which is attributed to the lower frequencies of cesarean section for dystocia and repeat cesarean section. Policies, such as active management of of labor, trial of scar will achieve acceptable cesarean rate