The Demographic and Clinical History as Predictors Contributing to the Prevalence of Caesarean Sections in Ghana: A Facility-Based Study

Abstract

Caesarean section is an essential clinical obstetric intervention used to reduce maternal and foetal death. Several indications contribute to the decision-making to use CS as a delivery in the clinical environment. This study sought to determine the prevalence of CS at LEKMA Hospital in Ghana and the demographic and clinical history of mothers as predictors for the prevalence. Using a retrospective study design, data for all mothers who had previously given birth at the hospital’s obstetric and gynaecological department was used. Multiple logistic regression was applied and a p-value<0.05 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for results using IBM-SPSS version 25. From the study, the prevalence of CS was 40.6% and the average age for SVD and CS were 28.3±5.94years and CS 29.6±5.50years respectively. The likelihood of those aged 36 years and above undergoing CS was notably higher (AOR; 2.84, 95%CI 1.41-5.3, p-value <0.0001) compared to those aged 26-30 (AOR; 2.45, 95%CI 1.49-4.00, p-value: 0.004) years and 31-35 (AOR; 1.65, 95% CI 0.94-2.90, p-value: 0.080) years. The results further indicated that the risk of undergoing CS was greater among mothers with parity of 1-2 (AOR: 1.56, 95%CI 1.02-2.41, p-value: 0.040). The prevalence of CS in the study is greater than the recommended prevalence per 100 births by the World Health Organization. The sociodemographic and clinical history of a pregnant woman influenced the mode of delivery such that the increase in gestational age and parity decreased the risk of CS. Whiles the educational status and age of the mothers at the time of birth increased the risk of CS delivery.