August 2021 · Volume 10 · Issue 8 Page 3072 International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology Maurya P et al. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Aug;10(8):3072-3078 www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789 Original Research Article A cross sectional study to evaluate indications and outcomes of caesarean section in a district hospital of West Bengal Pratima Maurya 1 *, Sandeep Saini 2 , Bhawna Saini 3 , Mohit Kumar 4 , Ajit Kumar Adhya 1 , Ranjit Kumar Mondal 1 INTRODUCTION Caesarean section in medically justified cases can prevent maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. In 1985, WHO has considered an optimal rate of CS to be between 10% and 15%. 1 As per WHO review, CS rates above 9- 16% are not associated with decrease in maternal and fetal mortality. Many professional groups are questioning WHO recommended optimal CS rate by suggesting that lowering the CS rate may be more harmful for mother and fetus. 2 There has been an expeditious rise in the CS rate throughout the world. There is worldwide variation in the CS rate ranging from 4-65% in USA with some countries like Brazil going as high as 55.6%. 3,4 Similar rising trends in CS rate from 21.8% in 1993-94 to 25.4% in 1998-99, was also noted in study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research. 5 The aim of the study was to determine CS rate at district hospital of West Bengal. It also assessed DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20212957 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North 24 Parganas District Hospital, Barasat, West Bengal, India 2 Department of Nephrology, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, India 3 Department of Pharmacology, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, India 4 Department of Anesthesia, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, India Received: 22 June 2021 Accepted: 16 July 2021 *Correspondence: Dr. Pratima Maurya, E-mail: dr.pratimamaurya@gmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: There is drastic rise in caesarean section (CS) rate worldwide in last decade as compared to optimal CS rate (10-15%) recommendation by WHO. This study was conducted to assess incidence and feto-maternal outcome in CS delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in pregnant women admitted over one year from September 2017- August 2018 in West Bengal. Demographic details and indication of CS were recorded along with documentation of feto-maternal outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed with help of Epi Info (TM) 7.2.2.2. Z-test and corrected Chi square (χ2) test. p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Out of total 10831 deliveries, 2914 (27%) women underwent CS. Demographic analysis shows maximum number of patients to be between 20-25years (51.7%), rural (58%), primigravida (51.3%), term pregnancy (87.7%). Non-progression of labour or NPL (45%) was most common indication of CS followed by previous CS (26.2%) and fetal distress (17.9%). Post CS wound infection was seen in 33 (1.1%) women. Two maternal deaths were recorded. Still born was documented in 0.8% while 6.8% fetus were referred to paediatric ICU. Conclusions: Rise in CS rates was mainly reported in 20-25 years age group, rural patients, in term pregnancy of primigravida patients. Most common indication for CS was NPL followed by previous CS and fetal distress. Mostly patients showed no complication in postpartum period. Only few patients had wound infection, hysterectomy and post- partum haemorrhage. More than 99% fetus survived without any complications. Keywords: Caesarean section rates, Caesarean section indications, Fetal distress