title: Obstetric and non-obstetric risk factors for cesarean section in oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to explore the risk factors, profiles and neonatal outcomes of Cesarean sections among selected women in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this hospital-based case-control study, a total of 500 participants (250 cases who had cesarean section and 250 controls who had spontaneous vaginal delivery), were randomly selected from four hospitals. Cases and controls were matched according to timing and place of delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THE FOLLOWING PREDICTORS WERE FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF CESAREAN SECTION: a) advancing age (above the age of 25 years, OR=1.42; p=0.03), b) prior cesarean section (previous cesarean section=1, OR=22.71; p=0.001), c) increased body mass index (obesity, OR=2.11; p=0.07), d) extremes of neonatal birth weight (neonates birth weight <2.5 kg, OR=5.2; neonates birth weight >4.0 kg, OR=7.3; p<0.001), and e) pre-pregnancy diabetes (OR=9.3; p=0.04). On the contrary, increased parity and history of the use of birth spacing methods (OR=0.38; p=0.03) were associated with decreased risk of cesarean section.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study calls for increasing awareness about clinical and public health majors that would lead to prevention of risk factors associated with increased risk of cesarean section such as maintaining normal BMI and prevention of gestational and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Information and Research, Directorate of Health Services in Ad Dakhilya Governorate, Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al Busaidi
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: Vaidyanathan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gowri