Caesarean delivery rate and indications at a secondary healthcare Facility in Ibadan,South Western Nigeria: a five-year review

BackgroundCaesarean delivery is an essential surgical skill within the primary care setting aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.ObjectivesTo determine the rate and indications for caesarean deliveries with a view to improving on the service delivery in the study area.MethodsA retrospective review of all caesarean deliveries over a five-year period, January 1^st, 2012 to December 31^st, 2016.ResultsA total of 2321 deliveries were recorded during the study duration and 481 of them were through caesarean section (CS) giving a caesarean section rate of 20.4%. The rate was higher in the multigravida 255 (53.1%). The commonest indication for caesarean section was previous caesarean section 131 (27.2%). Emergency caesarean delivery accounted for 278 (57.8%). Only 16 (3.3%) stayed more than five days postoperatively while the rest, 465 (96.7%), stayed less than five days. There was a gradual yearly increase in rate from 12.1% in 2012 to 19.5% in 2016.ConclusionThe rate of CS in this study has shown a gradual yearly increase with emergency CS having a higher percentage. Early diagnosis and referral of high-risk pregnancies from peripheral hospitals could reduce emergency CS among the study population.