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. 2022 Mar 23:10:20503121221085453.
doi: 10.1177/20503121221085453. eCollection 2022.

Cesarean section rate and outcomes during and before the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic

George Uchenna Eleje  1   2 , Emmanuel Onyebuchi Ugwu  3   4 , Joseph Tochukwu Enebe  5 , Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro  2 , Boniface Chukwuneme Okpala  1   2 , Nnanyelugo Chima Ezeora  5 , Emeka Ifeanyi Iloghalu  3   4 , Chidebe Christian Anikwe  2 , Chigozie Geoffrey Okafor  2 , Polycarp Uchenna Agu  3   4 , Emeka Philip Igbodike  6 , Iffiyeosuo Dennis Ake  7 , Kingsley Emeka Ekwuazi  3   4 , Arinze Anthony Onwuegbuna  8 , Osita Samuel Umeononihu  2 , Onyedika Promise Anaedu  2 , David Chibuike Ikwuka  9 , Henry Ifeanyi Nwaolisa  2 , Chukwuemeka Chidindu Njoku  1 , Chidinma Patricia Nwankwo  1 , Ekene Agatha Emeka  10 , Lydia Ijeoma Eleje  11 , Kenechi Miracle Adinnu  12 , Chinelo Onuegbuna Okoye  13 , Angela Ogechukwu Ugwu  14 , Ethel Oluchukwu Nwachukwu  10 , Sunday Gabriel Mba  5 , Eziamaka Pauline Ezenkwele  3   4 , Uchenna Elizabeth Okoye  15 , Chika Ifeoma Ofiaeli  10 , Golibe Christian Ikpeze  2 , Livinus Nnanyere Onah  5 , Odigonma Zinobia Ikpeze  2 , Toochukwu Benjamin Ejikeme  2 , Gerald Okanandu Udigwe  1   2 , Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu  1   2
Affiliations

Cesarean section rate and outcomes during and before the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic

George Uchenna Eleje et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess how the current COVID-19 pandemic has affected cesarean section (C-section) rates, indications, and peripartum outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that compared a 3-month rates of and indications for C-sections at three tertiary health care institutions in Nigeria before (October 2019-December 2019) and during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-May 2020). Primary outcomes were C-section rate and indications between the two periods. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 IBM Corporation. Rates and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to quantify indications and peripartum outcomes and statistical significance was accepted when p value was <0.05.

Results: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. The C-section rate during the COVID-19 period was significantly less than the period prior to the pandemic (237/580, 40.0% vs 390/833, 46.8%; p = 0.027). The rates of postdatism (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-2.05, p = 0.022), fetal distress (odds ratio = 3.06, 95% confidence interval = 1.55-6.06, p = 0.017), emergency C-section (odds ratio = 1.43, 95% confidence interval = 1.01-2.05, p = 0.042), and anemia (odds ratio = 1.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-3.03, p = 0.016) were significantly higher during the pandemic than prepandemic.

Conclusion: The overall C-section rate during the first wave of COVID-19 was significantly lower than the prepandemic period. There were higher rates of postdatism, fetal distress, emergency C-section, and postpartum anemia. Further studies on this changing C-section trend during the pandemic are needed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cesarean section rate; SARS-CoV2; lockdown; pregnant women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow chart of the participants. CS: cesarean section.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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