Why are caesarean section rates so high in facilities in Mali and Benin?
type: Article
item type: journalArticle
is part of: Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
authors: Person
  surname: Schantz
  given name: Clémence
authors: Person
  surname: Ravit
  given name: Marion
authors: Person
  surname: Traoré
  given name: Abou Bakary
authors: Person
  surname: Aboubakar
  given name: Moufalilou
authors: Person
  surname: Goyet
  given name: Sophie
authors: Person
  surname: de Loenzien
  given name: Myriam
authors: Person
  surname: Dumont
  given name: Alexandre
abstract: Objective: To assess new estimates of caesarean section (c-section) rates in facilities in two sub-Saharan countries using the Robson classification. Methods: This study is a retrospective study. Workshops were organized in Mali and Benin in 2017 to train health care professionals in the use of the Robson classification. Nine health facilities in Mali and Benin were selected to participate in the study. Data for deliveries performed in 2014, 2015, and 2016 were included. Results: A total of 12,472 deliveries were included. The overall c-section rate was high in facilities in both countries: 31.0% in Mali and 43.9% in Benin. Women classified as high-risk (groups 6-10) were small relative contributors to the overall c-section rate (19.3% in Mali and 25.3% in Benin), while low-risk women (groups 1-4) were high relative contributors (55.4% in Mali and 45.2% in Benin). C-section rates in women who had undergone a previous c-section were especially high in both countries (84.0% in Mali; 82.5% in Benin). This group was the largest contributor to the overall c-section rates in both countries. Conclusions: We found high c-section rates in facilities in Mali and Benin, particularly for low-risk women and for women with a previous c-section. Further investigations should be carried out to understand why the c-section rates are so high in these facilities. Strategies must be implemented to avoid unnecessary c-sections, which potentially lead to further complications, particularly in countries with high fertility rates.
date: 2018-06
pages: 10-14
citation key: schantzWhyAreCaesarean2018
date submitted: 2018-01-23 10:06:24
language: en
library catalog: CrossRef

Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
type: Journal
volume: 16
identifier: DOI 10.1016/j.srhc.2018.01.001
identifier: ISSN 18775756