Perception and practice of external cephalic version among obstetricians in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Background: External cephalic version (ECV) is the procedure for turning abnormally presenting foetus to cephalic presentation with the aim of vaginal delivery. Due to its relatively high success rate, it’s recommended as an intervention with potentials to reduce the high caesarean section rate. However, its practice is low amongst obstetricians in Nigeria. Objective: To evaluate the perception and practice of external cephalic version among Nigerian obstetricians. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional analytical study of 114 fellows of West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), Faculty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, who were consecutively recruited during the conference and residency doctor’s examination periods. The eligible consented participants were interviewed using questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed using Stata version 16c and results presented in figures and tables. Results: There were very poor perception and practice of external cephalic version 96(84.2%) and 82 (71.9%) respectively, while sixty-seven (59.3%) attempted ECV. There was no significant difference in perception and practice of ECV based on gender, age and setting of practice. The duration of practice of obstetricians was statistically significant with respect to perception and practice of ECV (p-value = 0.006). Conclusion: The perception and practice of ECV among Nigeria trained obstetricians remain low and poor respectively. However, the longer the duration of practice as a Nigerian Obstetrician the higher the perception and practice of external cephalic version. Recommendation: More training on the procedure of ECV is recommended as it is a safe technique which reduces caesarean section rates especially in our settings with strong aversion for caesarean delivery.