Evaluation of cesarean delivery rates in different levels of hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China, using the 10-Group classification system

Abstract

Objective To compare cesarean delivery (CD) rates in referral and non-referral hospitals in Maternal Safety Collaboration in Jiangsu province, China. Methods Sixteen participants (4 referral hospitals, 12 non-referral hospitals) from Drum Tower Hospital Collaboration for Maternal Safety reported CD rates in 2019 using ten-group classification system and maternal/neonatal morbidity and mortality. Results A total of 22,676 CDs were performed among 52,499 deliveries and the average CD rate was 43.2% (range 34.8–69.6%). CD rate in non-referral hospitals (44.7%) was significantly higher than it was in referral hospitals (40.4%, p < .001). Term singleton cephalic nulliparous women with spontaneous labor (Group 1) or induced labor (Group 2a) had higher CD rates if they were cared in non-referral hospitals compared with those in referral hospitals (Group 1: 11.8% vs. 4.4%, p < .001; Group 2a: 29.1% vs. 21.3%, p < .001). In non-referral hospitals, CD rate in Group 5 and the proportion of Group 5 to the overall population were also significantly higher than those in referral hospitals (98.5% vs. 92.5%, p < .001; and 21.0% vs. 14.5%, p < .001). Conclusion To decrease the CD rate, we need to take efforts in decreasing unnecessary operations for term singleton cephalic nulliparous women and increasing the rate of trial of labor after CD.