Prevalence, causes, and complications of cesareandelivery in Iran: A systematic review and metaanalysis

Background: Uncontrolled increase of C-section is one of the major problems inIranian health system, such that C-section is the most common surgical procedure inthe entire country’s hospitals in Obstetrics and Gynecology sections. A variety ofcomplications also come along with cesarean.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, causes, andcomplications of cesarean in Iran.Materials and Methods: forty-one articles were considered with respect to certaincriteria and were included in a systematic review to perform a meta-analysis study.The systematic review’s search was conducted on SID, Iranmedx, Magiran, Medlib,PubMed, and Science Direct databases published between1999-2016. The weight ofeach included study was calculated according to its sample size and the reportedprevalence of binomial distribution. A random-effects model using R and STATA(Version 11.2) software was utilized for analyzing dataResults: The total number of the sample was 197514 pregnant women with a meanage of 26.72 yr. The prevalence of cesarean in Iran was estimated at 48%. The mainreasons for the prevalence of cesarean in this study were mothers’ higher education,previous cesarean, and doctor recommendation. The most frequent complication inwomen undergoing cesarean was the muscular pain, and the most common fetalcomplications in newborns by caesarean delivery was transient tachypnea.Conclusion: The prevalence of C-section in Iran is much higher than what WHOrecommends. It is essential, to decrease such a phenomenon, making the mothersaware of the risks of cesarean delivery, and establishing counselling sessions as wellto eliminate the mothers’ fear of vaginal delivery.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cesarean ، Iran ، Prevalence ، Meta-analysis