Cesarean Section in a Maternity Unit of a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Cesarean section is a common obstetric procedure which is done to reduce complications in high risk pregnancies. The aim of study was to find out the prevalence of cesarean section in a maternity unit of a tertiary care center. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 497 pregnant women presenting in a maternity unit of a tertiary center of Kathmandu, Nepal over a period of six months from March to August 2017 after taking ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Ref. 24). In this study, the prevalence of cesarean section, perinatal outcome, maternal and neonatal complications if any were observed. Data and descriptive analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data. RESULTS: The prevalence of cesarean section was 171 (34.4%) at 95% Confidence interval (30.2-38.7). Most common indication for cesarean section was fetal distress 53 (31%). The maternal complications developed in 11 (6.4%) among those who delivered via cesarean delivery; Surgical Site Infection being the most common maternal complication. The neonatal intensive care unit admission rate among the newborns via cesarean section delivery was 48 (27.43%) and neonatal sepsis 14 (8%) was most common adverse neonatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The cesarean rate at the study center is higher than standard target rate of World Health Organization. Neonatal and maternal adverse outcome in current study were comparable with existing literatures.