[Cesarean deliveries in a district hospital in Ouagadougou. Epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic study of 3381 cases].

OBJECTIVE

to study the epidemiologic aspects, indications, and prognosis of cesarean deliveries at the maternity ward of the Bogodogo health district hospital in Ouagadougou.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study examined records for the years 2005 through 2008. Data were collected from the computer database of records of cesareans at the hospital.

RESULTS

Of 11,142 deliveries during the study period, 3381 were cesareans, for a hospital cesarean rate of 30.3%. The epidemiological profile of these women showed that: 55% of the women had been transferred to the hospital on an emergency basis; their mean age was 26.8 years (range: 15 to 48 years), their mean parity 4 (range: 1 to 13), and 87% of the cesareans were performed in emergency situations. The principal indications for the cesareans were fetal distress (22.9%), fetopelvic disproportion (17.2%), previous cesarean delivery (12.8%), preeclampsia/eclampsia (7.9%), and pelvic abnormalities (7.8%). Maternal morbidity was reported for 1.6% of the women; 63% of these involved hemorrhages. The lethality rate of maternal complications was 0.7%. The stillbirth rate was 3.1% and the early neonatal mortality rate 0.1%.

CONCLUSION

The cesarean rate at the Bogodogo district hospital is similar to international rates. Maternal and fetal morbidity are not high. The example of the Bogodogo hospital deserves to be followed by other districts in Africa in order to meet the Millennium Development Objectives.