Effect of maternal age on the rate, type, and indications of caesarean section deliveries: A study from a maternity hospital of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of maternal age on the rate, type (elective or emergency) and indications of caesarean section. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Government Maternity Hospital, Peshawar. Period: January 2020 to January 2021. Methods: The normal labor register, which contains data of each, and every delivery conducted in the mentioned hospital, was used to find out total number of caesarean sections during the period of study. All those patients were included in the study who underwent caesarean section during the study period. Total number of caesarean sections was 603 after excluding the patients with ruptured uterus, multiple pregnancies, ectopic pregnancy and cephalopelvic disproportion. Maternal age was noted and compared with the rate of caesarean section. Maternal age was further categorized as <20; 21-25; 26-30; 31-35; 36-40 and >40 years. Results: Among 603 patients, the majority of patients who underwent caesarean section were in 26-30 years age group followed by 21-25 years. When the indications for caesarean section were compared based on the already defined categories of age, a significant difference (p<0.001) was found. Previous caesarean sections were found to be the topmost cause in all age groups while the second common cause was malpresentation. Elective caesarean section rate was found to be significantly higher than emergency ones with p-value<0.001. Conclusion: Our results revealed a greater number of caesarean sections in the younger age group; therefore, it can be concluded that maternal age has no direct effects on the rate, type, and indications of caesarean section.