Frequency of cesarean sections in female physicians and medical students in Babylon governorate

Abstract

Background: Cesarean sections (CSs) defined as delivery of the fetus through abdominal incision. In certain condition, it is a life-saving surgical procedure for both mother and her fetus. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and causes of CSs in female Physicians and medical student in Babylon Governorate. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Babylon. The duration of the study was over a period of 5 months, included a convenient sample of 345 female physicians and medical students delivered by CSs who worked at central and peripheral hospital mentioned who agreed to participate in this study, data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire by which female physicians and medical student were interviewed. Results: The mean age of female physicians whom delivered by CSs is (30.32 ± 4.38) years. More of them are para one CS (65.8%), no period of subfertility (92.5%), no history of miscarriage (78.6%), and delivered after 37 weeks of gestation (89.6%). Threatened miscarriage represented (47.3%) fallowed by anemia (14.2%) and preeclampsia (8.8%). The main indication of CSs was patient's wishes which represented (43.2%) of CS, (77.2%) of them had CS without any medical reason only afraid from the pain of normal vaginal delivery, (9.4%) had a history of primary subfertility, (6%) had bad obstetric history, (4.7%) had a history of pregnancy complications such as threatened miscarriage, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: CSs rate in female physicians and medical student in Babylon Governorate were much higher than the optimal range recommended by the World Health Organization. In spite of their knowledge about the complications of CSs, more of them preferred CSs with no medical reason because of afraid from vaginal delivery pain.