[Factors influencing cesarean delivery method in Shiraz hospitals]

ABSTRACT

Cesarean has been defined as surgical delivery in which the infant, placenta and membranes draw out through incision made on the mother's abdomen and uterus. Al present, 50-65 percent of deliveries in Iran are achieved by cesarean method. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing termination of pregnancy with cesarean method. In this cross-sectional study, 420 mothers, referred to Shiraz governmental and private hospitals for delivery were selected. Data collection was performed by structured questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software. The prevalence of cesarean was 89% and 63.28% in private and governmental hospitals, respectively, with the overall prevalence of 66.4%. Age, height, BMI, socioeconomic status, null parity, acceptance in private hospitals, cesarean history, induction of labor macrosomia, shoulder dystocia and breach presentation was significantly related to cesarean section [P<0.05]. In final model, cesarean history, age after 35 and education level were the most important factor for cesarean method of delivery. Although cesarean has been identified as a savior practice of mothers and neonates in emergency situation, its prevalence is increasing, because of physicians' tendency for economical benefits, and also, of mothers' fear from labor pain. So, mothers, especially nulliparous mothers should be persuaded for having vaginal delivery, in order to avoid cesarean complications in sequential deliveries