Incidence and correlates of cesarean section in a capital city of a middle-income country

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and correlates of cesarean deliveries (CS) in Beirut. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted on 18,837 consecutive infants born at nine hospitals from the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network (NCPNN). Stepwise Logistic Regression was performed to determine CS correlates. RESULTS: The rate of CS was 26.4% and correlated with socio-demographic, obstetrical and provider-related variables. Regression analysis identified age, paternal occupation, mode of payment, parity, birth weight, gestational age, multiple pregnancies, adequate prenatal care, complications during pregnancy, body mass index at delivery, hospital teaching status, day of the week and year of delivery to be significant correlates of CS. CONCLUSION: This study shows an increased CS rate in a middle-income country, and identifies the correlates of women delivering by the abdominal route. These correlates may be used for effective reduction policies in the future.