A Six Year Review of Caesarean Sections at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu, South West Nigeria

Abstract

Caesarean section is one of the most commonly performed major operative  procedures. There appears to be an increase in the rate of caesarean delivery in our environment, the safety of the procedure has also improved over decades. However, the procedure is still associated with some complications. The aim of this study was to determine the rate, indications and complications of caesarean sections in  Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. This was a six year retrospective study of all caesarean deliveries in  OOUTH between January 1st 2009 and December 31st 2014. Relevant informationwas retrieved from the medical records and case notes using a purpose designed proforma. The data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS windows version 21. A total of 1390 caesarean section were performed out of 4219 deliveries during the period of review giving a caesarean section rate of 32.9%. The commonest indication was previous caesarean section (25.2%), followed by obstructed labour (17.0%).  Maternal complications occurred in 23.1% of the subjects with wound infection being the commonest. Birth asphyxia was the commonest foetal complication. This study demonstrates a high caesarean section rate in OOUTH. Efforts geared towards reducing primary caesarean sections by encouraging instrumental delivery in nulliparous women and improving skills in destructive vaginal delivery for  obstructed labour with intrauterine fetal death will assist in reversing the trend.Keywords: Caesarean section rate, Indications, Complications