RATE AND INDICATIONS OF ELECTIVE AND EMERGENCY CAESAREAN SECTION; A STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

Background: the study was conducted to determine the rate and clinical indications for emergency and elective caesarean section.methods: this was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from december 2010 to january 2011 in gynaecology unit-a of lady reading hospital peshawar. consecutive patients who gave birth in the hospital during the study period were included in the study. there were a total of 966 patients. mode of delivery and basic demographics of the patients who underwent elective and emergency caesarean section were noted down. clinical indications were recorded.results: out of 966 patients,210 underwent caesarean section. therefore,the rate of caesarean section was 21.7 per 100. among those 78% (n=164) were emergency caesarean sections and others were elective caesarean sections. top six indicators for caesarean sections were foetal distress 17.1% (n=36),obstructive labour/failure to progress 16.1% (n=34),previous caesarean section 15.2% (n=32),breech presentation 9.5% (n=20),cephalopelvic disproportion 6.1% (n=13),failed induction 5.7% (n=12) and pregnancy induced hypertension (pih) 5.7% (n=12).conclusion: the rate of caesarean section was only slightly higher than recommended by the who. most of caesarean sections were emergency caesarean sections.