Rate of and indications for caesarean sections at Federal Government Polyclinic Islamabad

Abstract

Objective: To determine the rate of CS among pregnant women admitted to the hospital and to document the indications for CS among them.

Methods: This descriptive observation study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Government Polyclinic (FGPC), Islamabad over a period of one year. Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was employed. All pregnant women who were admitted in the hospital for childbirth were included in the study. Non-consenting patients were excluded. Robson's ten group classification system (RTGCS) was employed to categorize the women undergoing CS.

Results: Out of 3489 deliveries there were 1855 CSs with CS rate of 53.16%. Majority of the CS (n=1445; 77.89%) were emergency whereas only 22.10% (n=410) CS were elective. Majority of the CS (n=1411; 76.06%) were instituted among women with previous scars whereas 444(23.93%) were performed in primigravida.

The highest frequency of CS was observed among women of Robson’s group-5 (n=965; 52.02%), followed next by women in Robson’s group-2 (n=276; 14.87%), and those in Robson’s group-1 (n=182; 9.81%).

Conclusion: The rate of CS was 53.16%. Majority of the CS were performed among women with previous CS. Robust efforts should be made to improve the standards of obstetric care at the level of the primary healthcare facilities. This will help to reduce not only primary CS but more importantly the alarmingly high secondary CS in the Robson’s group-5 women.