Caesarean Section Rates and Associated Factors in Karbala: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background:

The most common obstetric surgical procedure performed worldwide is a Caesarean Section (CS). When performed properly, CS can enhance maternal and/or newborn outcomes. Although it saves the mother and child in some cases, it carries risks and complications, and the    percentage of women who choose it without a medical reason is increasing, so awareness must be increased.

Objective:

Determine the frequency of CS and analyze the indications, so as to introduce measures to control the CS rate, as decreasing this rate will reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and increasing awareness among women about CS.

Participants and method: The ongoing study was conducted from various hospitals in Karbala during December 2024. In this study, information and data were taken from all women who underwent a CS and Vaginal delivery by a questionnaire designed for this purpose.

Results:

The percentage of CS is 60% and the percentage of elective ones were 43.3% The most common indication for CS was inability to give birth naturally, followed by a previous CS, health problems for the mother (hypertension or diabetes), and pregnancy with twins, the rate of complications also increased after CS, (bladder and intestine injury, postpartum hemorrhage, and admission to the intensive care unit etc.) While in natural childbirth, complications are few and less severe. 

Conclusions:

The increasing rate of the CS rate in Karbala populations highlight the need to apply more improvement and attention to primary health care in order to increase awareness and cooperation of health institutions and medical staff to spread risks and complications.