Prevalence, indications and neonatal complications of caesarean deliveries in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The trend of increasing caesarean deliveries in developed countries over the past three decades is now being observed in sub-Saharan African. This rise might be associated with an increase in the complications that could arise from this surgical intervention. We therefore sought to assess the prevalence, indications and complications of caesarean deliveries in Cameroon. METHODS: We systematically searched online databases: Medline; Global Health and the CINAHL from 01st January 1966 to 25th July 2019. We reviewed published cohort studies, retrospective register analysis and cross-sectional studies that described cohorts of pregnant women presenting at delivery facilities in Cameroon; and included those that had an estimate of the proportion of women who delivered by caesarean sections. RESULTS: There were 126 articles initially identified by the search and 88 articles were retained after removal of duplicates. After screening of the titles and abstracts, and full text review, we identified 16 articles describing 22 cohorts of women presenting for delivery in health facilities in Cameroon. The overall estimate for the prevalence of caesarean deliveries was 9.9% (95% CI: 7.4, 12.8%, I(2) = 99.68%, χ(2) = 315.9, p < 0.001). The prevalence of caesarean deliveries increased progressively from 3.4% (95% CI: 2.2, 4.8%) before the year 2000, to 9.8% (95% CI: 7.4, 12.8%) between 2000 and 2009 and 14.7% (95% CI: 8.8, 21.7%) from 2010 to 2019. The three commonest indications for caesarean deliveries were: cephalopelvic disproportion (27.5%; 95% CI: 17.5, 38.7%); previous caesarean deliveries (13.2%; 95% CI: 7.4, 20.3%) and foetal distress (11.2%; 95% CI: 4.8, 19.5%). Neonates who were born by caesarean delivery were more likely to have neonatal asphyxia when compared with neonates born from vaginal deliveries (OR: 6.5; 95% CI: 2.5, 16.5). CONCLUSION: The rates of caesarean deliveries in Cameroon falls just within the recommended 10–15% range proposed by the World Health Organisation but have however been increasing progressively in the past decades. There is a strong need to assess the various indications of caesarean deliveries in Cameroon in order to curb its associated complications.