Obstetric Factors Contributing to the Rising Trend of Cesarean Deliveries at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zaid Hospital, Rawlakot

The study aimed to assess the rate of cesarean section and to analyse the risk factors contributing to C-sections to introduce measures to check unwanted, non-medical reasons to go for a C-section. The study was retrospectively conducted at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zaid Hospital Rawlakot Azad Kashmir on 5226 normal deliveries and 1604 C-sections. The rate was found to be 30.6%, more than the recommended rate by WHO (10-15 %). The major contributing factor was the previous scar (41.6%). The most prevalent indications were foetal distress (14%), older age more than 35 years (6 %), obstructed labour (1.9 %), failed IOL (1.6 %), failure of progress of labour (1.8 %), multiple pregnancies (1.74 %), PIH (0.99 %), meconium aspiration (1.62 %), placental problems (1.8 %), only one patient (0.06 %) requested for elective caesarean and other risk factors were also seen (18 %) in aggregate. The study concluded that at SKBZ hospital C-sections were overused. The study was conducted with a limited sample size only in one high-standard hospital in Rawalakot Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the demographic characteristics of the patients were almost similar. Yet, it will be better to repeat the same kind of study in other hospitals of the AJK with larger sample sizes and with varying population characteristics and facilities, including populations from both the urban as well as from rural areas to get a clear understanding based on these differences to and generalize the results. The findings of this study will contribute to theory and practice and will be helpful to the government functionaries in healthcare planning.