title: Indications for Caesarean sections in a rural hospital in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
abstract: We retrospectively documented indications for Caesarean sections in a rural district level hospital in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Over a 53-month study period, 745 Caesarean sections were performed. Prolonged labour, previous history of Caesarean section, cephalopelvic disproportion, malpresentation and fetal distress accounted for over 88% of Caesarean sections performed. In older mothers (aged >30 years), antepartum haemorrhage (Fisher exact test, P = 0.05) and multiple indications (P = 0.001) were leading reasons for Caesarean sections while cephalopelvic disproportion (P = 0.005) was the leading indication in younger mothers. Further prospective studies incorporating perinatal and maternal mortality rates are required to optimise the value of Caesarean sections at district level hospitals in Papua New Guinea.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Registrar, Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Terence B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.affiliation: Consultant Surgeon, Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Fellow, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea drmlaman@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054869:Clinical Audit; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caesarean sections; Papua New Guinea; pregnancy