BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Aug 23;25(1):881. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07902-8.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Modern medicine has significantly transformed the process of childbirth among women. The preferred mode of childbirth has become of global interest to many researchers due to the steady rise in recent caesarean section (CS) rates. While CS is often viewed as a life-saving intervention, it is associated with both immediate and long-term complications for the mother, newborn, and future pregnancies. To better understand the medical and non-medical reasons for CS among women, this study was conducted to identify the socio-demographic and obstetric factors that influence CS in the Tamale Metropolis.
METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 318 postpartum mothers at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Descriptive analysis, univariate logistic regression and stepwise multivariate logistic regression model were conducted, with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: The majority of respondents (63.5%) were below 30 years. Almost all respondents (95.3%) were enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The majority (95.91%) had single births. Most respondents (91.2%) had spontaneous vaginal delivery. The prevalence of CS was 8.8%. Significant factors influencing the preference for CS were maternal age above 30 years (aOR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.01-5.12), rural settlement (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.10-0.92), twin delivery (aOR = 6.88, 95% CI = 1.64-28.95), and obstetric complication (aOR = 10.55, 95% CI = 2.42-46.04).
CONCLUSION: There is a need to focus on initiatives that address regional disparities, enhance access to comprehensive maternal healthcare services, and promote informed decision-making regarding mode of delivery to ultimately improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
PMID:40849612 | DOI:10.1186/s12884-025-07902-8
