Pattern of cesarean deliveries among women in an urban and rural district in Egypt

Abstract

Aim: to compare patterns of delivery at an urban and a rural district in Egypt over 3 years.

Methods: This retrospective study included 500 women and 50 obstetricians from each district from January, 2013 till December, 2015. Women answered a questionnaire about their deliveries. Obstetricians answered a questionnaire about their practice of CS.

Results: CS rate in the rural district was 57.2% compared to 54.8% in the urban district in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, CS rates increased to 65.3% and 69%, respectively in the rural district compared to 56% and 57.7%, respectively in the urban district. 66% of obstetricians in the rural district performed CS for more than 50% of their patients compared to 76% of obstetricians in the urban district. 52% and 4% of obstetricians in the rural and urban districts, respectively, performed CS upon maternal request. 70.3% of women in the rural district who delivered by CS preferred to deliver vaginally. 51.4% of urban women who delivered by CS preferred to deliver vaginally. Level of education was the only factor showing statistical significance.

Conclusion: CS rates increased over time with higher rates in the rural area. Level of women's education was the only factor affecting delivery choice.

Keywords: CS rate; Egypt; cesarean sections; obstetricians; rural area; urban area.