Primary Caesarean Deliveries: Prevalence, Indications And Management Outcomes Among Pregnant Women Who Deliver At Iringa Region Referral Hospital

ABSTRACT

Background: Primary caesarian section is an operation that is performed for the first time on a pregnant woman. Primary caesarean section is of particular interest because it has an influence on future modes of delivery and is of concern as to what was the indication for procedure in a woman who has never tried her pelvis for vaginal delivery. Objectives: The study intended to determine; prevalence, indications, management outcomes of primary caesarean deliveries and association with some demographic characteristics among pregnant women who deliver at Iringa Region Referral Hospital, Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Methods: It was an analytical cross section hospital based study with quantitative research approach. A purposive sampling technique was employed for achieving a sample size of 247 of primary caesarian deliveries. A structuredquestionnaire was the main data collection method and the Statistical Package for Service Solution (v. 23) software program was used for data entry and analysis. Results: Prevalence rate of primary caesarean delivery was 247 (21.59%) out of 1144 deliveries during the study period. Findings revealed that the highest indication for caesarian section was fetal distress 79 (32.0%) followed by prolonged labor 65(25.1%). Maternal management outcomes revealed that 65 (26.3%) women experienced blood loss followed by 29 (11.7%) who experienced high body temperature. The new born management outcomes found that 128 (51.8%) were unable to breast feed and 95(38.5%) had low Apgar score. A logistic regression analysis revealed that women with primary and college/university education were more likely to undergo primary caesarian section (P