[Estimate of expected cesarean section rate for maternal indications in a population of pregnant women in West Africa (MOMA survey)].

OBJECTIVES

There is still some debate about the optimal rate of cesarean section (CS) needed to achieve better outcome for both mothers and infants in developing countries. We examine here two aspects of the question: i) a simple method to estimate the expected rate of CS according to obstetrical risk; ii) a test of the method to estimate the appropriate rate for maternal indications in a general population of pregnant women in West Africa.

METHODS

This population-based study was conducted in a cohort of pregnant women in six West African countries (MOMA survey): Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Bamako (Mali), Niamey (Niger), Nouakchott (Islamic Republic of Mauritania), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and in three areas of Senegal, two small towns (Fatick and Kafrine, Kaolack region), and one major city (Saint-Louis). 19,459 women with singleton pregnancies with expected breech presentation were followed to delivery and puerperium. Maternal indications for CS were defined as dystocia (prolonged labor over 12 hours), malpresentation, previous cesarean section, abruptio placentae, placenta paevia and eclampsia. A standardized method was used to calculate the number of expected CS in the MOMA population, according to the level of the obstetrical risk.

RESULTS

The minimal needs for Cs for maternal indications were estimated between 3.6 and 6.5 per 100 deliveries. However, we observed a rate of 1.3 CS per 100 deliveries.

DISCUSSION

These findings underline the lack of CS for maternal indications in urban West Africa. The method of standardization we propose could help policy makers, health planners and obstetricians to design programs to reach the appropriate level of CS and to monitor and follow-up these programs.