Determinants of the decision to incision interval in case of emergency caesarean section in Yaoundé’ hospitals

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the determinants of the decision to incision interval in case of emergency caesarean section in Yaoundé' hospitals METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional (affected / non-affected) study was conducted in four hospitals in Yaoundé between January and may 2017 after National Ethical Committee approval. The target population was women who benefited from emergency caesarean section during the study period. Crude Odds Ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval was used to appreciate the association between several characteristics and the risk for long decision-incision delay. RESULTS: The overall cases of 165 emergency caesarean section were analyzed. The prevalence of emergency caesarean section performed within 30 minutes was 20%. Social factors associated with long delay to perform the emergency Caesarean section (> 30 minutes) were the primary level of education [ AOR: 3.63(2.44–5.41)], unemployment status [AOR: 5.17(2.95–8.95)]; and the absence of a parent at admission [AOR: 2.2(1.23–3.94)]. Medical factors associated with long delay from decision to incision were: use of spinal anesthesia in opposition to general anesthesia [AOR: 3.86(2.59–5.73)]; delay of transfer from emergency and the late provision of the operation supplies [AOR: 4.18(2.90–6.03)]. CONCLUSION: Few women benefit from the surgical intervention within a maximum of 30 minutes. Support measures for women presenting the indications for emergency caesarean sections in hospitals are essential to improve the decision-incision delay of the caesarean section emergency.