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Table 4 Relationship between mode of delivery and severe maternal outcomes by continent

From: Caesarean section without medical indications is associated with an increased risk of adverse short-term maternal outcomes: the 2004-2008 WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health

Severe Maternal Outcomes

No (%)

Adjusted OR [95%CI]

Africa

  

   Spontaneous (reference)

1011/69,364 (1.46)

1 to

   Operative

151/2,298 (6.57)

2.58 (2.12-3.15)

   Antepartum without indications

14/63(22.22)

71.29 (32.06 to 158.55)

   Intrapartum without indications

36/202(17.82)

40.67 (24.56-67.33)

   Antepartum with indications

960/2,399(40.02)

88.61 (74.88 to 104.86)

   Intrapartum with indications

1,942/7,396(26.26)

54.26 (47.81 to 61.59)

Americas ††

  

   Spontaneous (reference)

946/61130 (1.55)

1

   Operative

50/1533 (3.26)

2.2 (1.62 to 2.99)

   Antepartum without indications

6/157(3.82)

1.94 (0.77 to 4.9)

   Intrapartum without indications

10/194(5.15)

4 (2.05 to 7.82)

   Antepartum with indications

803/13759(5.84)

3.04 (2.71 to 3.41)

   Intrapartum with indications

640/20120(3.18)

1.91 (1.71 to 2.13)

Asia †††

  

   Spontaneous (reference)

1190/75057 (1.59)

1

   Operative

145/3465 (4.18)

1.91 (1.56 to 2.35)

   Antepartum without indications

8/1515(0.53)

2.14 (1.04 to 4.43)

   Intrapartum without indications

40/554(7.22)

12.86 (8.83 to 18.73)

   Antepartum with indications

689/10853(6.35)

8.09 (7.12 to 9.18)

   Intrapartum with indications

1941/16506(11.76)

11.61 (10.56 to 12.76)

  1. †Maternal age, Total number of years attended school, Primiparaous, Birth weight, Neonatal death or stillbirth, Caesarean section at last pregnancy, Pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia or eclampsia or chronic hypertension, Suspected fetal growth impairment, Vaginal bleeding in 2nd half of pregnancy, Referred for complication related to pregnancy or delivery, Any other medical complication during pregnancy (excluding chronic hypertension), Country, Incentive for caesarean section
  2. ††Birth weight, Prelabour rupture of membranes, Pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia or eclampsia or chronic hypertension, Vaginal bleeding in 2nd half of pregnancy, Any antenatal antibiotic treatment, Referred for complication related to pregnancy or delivery, Induced labour, HIVPOS, Any other medical complication during pregnancy (excluding chronic hypertension) and Incentive for caesarean section
  3. ††† Maternal age, Total number of years attended school, Primiparous, Birth weight, Neonatal death or stillbirth, Prelabour rupture of membranes, Pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia or eclampsia or chronic hypertension, Vaginal bleeding in 2nd half of pregnancy, Breech or other non-cephalic precentation, Referred for complication related to pregnancy or delivery, HIVPOS, Any other medical complication during pregnancy (excluding chronic hypertension), Country and Complexity of index
  4. (Differently from the previous Asian specific analysis [7], the severe maternal outcomes included in this analysis are: death, admission to ICU, blood transfusion and hysterectomy)