Caesarean section in the Islamic Republic of Iran: prevalence and some sociodemographic correlates

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of caesarean section in the Islamic Republic of Iran in different provinces and to compare the sociodemographic characteristics of married women with and without caesarean section. Data were analysed from the Iranian Demographic and Health Survey of a representative sample of married women [n = 17 991] who delivered a baby between September 1998 and October 2000. Overall, 35.0% of deliveries were by caesarean section. Women having a caesarean section were older, better educated, married at a later age and with lower parity than those who delivered normally. Provincial variations in rates were significantly correlated with indices of socioeconomic development

[Unwanted - pregnancies and its determinants in Iran]

Despite the success of family planning programs in Iran during the recent years, surveys indicate that a significant proportion of pregnancies are unwanted. The objective of the present study was to examine the rate of unwanted pregnancies in Iran and to analyze the effect of relevant socio-economic and demographic variables on unwanted pregnancies. The data and informations for this study were obtained from the [Iran Demographic and Health Survey [IDHS]] undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2000. The study was performed on 5420 married pregnant woman. Results showed that around 35 percent of pregnancies were unintended, of which 19 percent were mistimed and 16 percent were unwanted. There was a meaningful relation between unintended pregnancy rate and pregnancy turn. Besides, around 42 percent of women who experienced unintended pregnancy were using a contraceptive method. Traditional methods and pills were the most prevalent methods used prior to unintended pregnancies in rural and urban areas respectively. Based on the results of the present study we suggest that the improvement of quality of family planning services is likely to decrease the level of unintended pregnancies in the future. The programs should target the couples who rely on traditional methods and pill in urban and rural areas respectively