Characterization of Primitive Cesareans in Santa Cruz Del Norte

Abstract

Introduction: The cesarean section has increased in great scale in Latin America and all over the world in the last years.
Objective: Establish the actual state of cesarean section in Santa Cruz del Norte in a period of 15 months.
Methods: a cross section study was conducted from July 2012 to September 2013 in a universe of 127 patients with cesarean section for the first time; the whole universe was intentionally selected to compose the sample. The data were collected by the review of book of births, clinical and obstetric records and they were processed using frequency distribution, percentage, rate, Student's test and Ji-square.
Results: The cesarean section rate was elevated (34,9%) keeping the same temporal tendency, mostly due to antepartum meconium with poor cervix conditions (29,9%), non-reassuring fetal status (14,2%) and cephalo-pelvic disproportion (14,2%). 59,8% had incorrect cesarean classification and prophylaxis with antibiotics was mainly incorrect in 74,8%. Respiratory distress (8,7%) and perinatal asphyxia (6,3%) were the most frequently neonatal complications, whereas postpartum hemorrhage (10,2%) and endometritis (8,7%) were the most frequently in mothers.
Conclusions: High rate of cesarean sections was found, most of them with unjustified indications and a wrong management of the classification and surgical prophylaxis leading to neonatal and maternal complications.