Cesarean section; changing patterns in Saudi Arabia.

Analysis of 8000 cesarean births in the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia documents an increase in the cesarean section (CS) rate from 3.9% in 1979 to 9.9% in 1984. This increase is mainly attributed to indications such as repeat section (37.2%) and fetal distress (28.5%). Increase in the diagnosis of fetal distress was related to the introduction of electronic fetal monitoring and this diagnosis was not substantiated by Apgar score of the neonate. Because of the social preference for large families in Saudi Arabia, over-use of cesarean section should be avoided. For this reason, critical analysis of fetal distress and adequate trial of labor for patients with previous cesarean section is mandatory.