Monitoring and assessing pre-labor obstetric practicesc using control charts: Cesarean delivery cases

Abstract

Due to the increase of the cesarean delivery rates globally, several researchers focused their attention on the analyses and monitoring of these rates. Present research focuses on analyzing cesarean delivery rates from two contexts – elective and emergency cesarean delivery cases. Statistical control charts –Shewhart and repetitive control charts, along with clustered bar chart are used for analyzing cesarean delivery data from 19 maternity clinics in Ireland. By-product of the analyses is also to have an insight into the pre-labor obstetric practices and suggesting whether a review of the labor ward practices is warranted or not. Secondary data is used in the current research. Moreover a comparison of the Shewhart control charts, repetitive control charts, and clustered bar charts has been carried out in order to show the effectiveness and ease of use of the control charts in identifying the areas were reviews of the pre-labor obstetric practices are warranted. It is observed that proposed charts are more robust in identifying the trouble spots than the traditional methods.