Prevalence of Cesarean Section Based on Robson’s Classification in Selected Delivery Centers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Cesarean section is performed to save the lives of the mother and the fetus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the expected cesarean section rate in different countries should be 10% - 15%, which is about 72.1% in Iran.

Therefore, due to the high prevalence of cesarean section, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cesarean section based on Robson’s classification in selected hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive-prospective study was conducted among 1787 women who had undergone a cesarean section in Hazrat Zeinab and Hafez hospitals of Shiraz in 2018. The data were collected by the researcher from the data recorded in the two delivery centers, and all the women were classified into 10 Robson groups. Cesarean section was calculated for each group of Robson’s classification. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) in SPSS, version 22.

Findings showed that 63.4% of the deliveries were performed through cesarean section, and the highest frequency (46.6%) was related to group 5, followed by group 2 (19.5%).

Given the high Prevalence of cesarean section observed in this study, it is recommended that the rate of cesarean section should be reduced in nulliparous women (group 2), and vaginal delivery should be increased after cesarean section (group 5).