Cesarean section rates in a tertiary referral hospital in Beirut from 2018 to 2020: Our experience using the Robson Classification.

Abdallah, Wael; Abi Tayeh, Georges; Cortbaoui, Emilia; Nassar, Malek; Yaghi, Nancy; Abdelkhalek, Yara; Kesrouani, Assaad; Finan, Ramzi; Mansour, Fersan; Attieh, Elie; Suidan, Joe; Kassis, Nadine; Aouad, Norma; Atallah, David

OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the cesarean section rate using the Robson Classification for the first time in Lebanon, at Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, a tertiary referral center in Beirut. METHODS It is a routine medical record data that includes all live births from January 1st , 2018 to September 30th , 2020. The overall cesarean section rate, the size of each group, the cesarean section rate, absolute and relative contribution were calculated within each group. RESULTS The overall cesarean section rate was 56.8%. The highest relative contribution to this rate came from Robson groups 5, 2 and 10 respectively. A decrease in cesarean rate was noted in 2020 among women admitted for induction of labor (groups 2 and 4) following the implementation of new department policies and the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 sanitary crisis. CONCLUSION More than 50% of the deliveries in our department were performed by cesarean sections. Strategies to reduce this rate should include stricter departmental policies for avoidance of unindicated primary cesarean sections and raising practitioners' and patients' awareness about trial of labor after cesarean section.