Obstetric Profiles and Cesarean Section Rates Among Women Who Gave Birth in Malatya: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study Using Snowball Sampling

Aim: This study aims to examine the obstetric profiles and modes of delivery of women who have given birth in Malatya and to evaluate the relationship between risk status and cesarean section (C-section) rates.Material and Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study and conducted among women who had given birth in Malatya. The sample was obtained using a snowball sampling method, and data were collected via an online survey created with Google Forms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and Pearson’s chi-square test were applied. In addition, binary logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed; results were reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.Results: In this study, the overall cesarean section rate was 68.3%. Among women without risk factors, the cesarean rate was 52.2%, whereas it increased to 71.8% among those with at least one risk factor. Among women whose previous delivery was by cesarean, 97.8% had a repeat cesarean for the current birth. Among primiparous women, 76.3% delivered by cesarean. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified maternal age (OR=1.081; p=0.005) and previous cesarean delivery (OR=9.079; p=0.001) as independent predictors of cesarean birth.Conclusion: Cesarean section rates were high among women who had given birth in Malatya, exceeding both national and international reference values. Previous cesarean history emerged as the strongest predictor of cesarean birth. These findings emphasize the importance of developing strategies to reduce primary cesarean rates, promoting safe vaginal birth after cesarean, and enhancing the educational content of prenatal programs to improve maternal health outcomes.