Perioperative Management and Outcomes After Cesarean Section-A Cross-Sectional Study From Rural Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean sections (c-sections), the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide, are essential in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. There is a paucity of research studies on c-section care and outcomes in rural African settings. The objective of this study was to describe demographic characteristics, clinical management, and maternal and neonatal outcomes among women receiving c-sections at Kirehe District Hospital (KDH) in rural Rwanda. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all women aged ≥ 18 y residing in KDH catchment area who delivered by c-section at KDH between April 1 and September 30, 2017. Demographic and clinical characteristics of these women and their newborns were collected using patient interviews and medical chart extraction. Descriptive analyses were performed, and frequency and percentages are reported. RESULTS: Of the 621 women included in the study, 45.7% (n = 284) were aged 25-34 y; 42.2% (n = 262) were married; 67.5% (n = 419) had primary education; and 75.7% (n = 470) were farmers by occupation. Burundian refugees living in the nearby Mahama Refugee Camp comprised 13.7% (n = 85) of the study population. The most common indication for c-section was having undergone a c-section previously (31.9%, n = 198), followed by acute fetal distress (30.8%, n = 191). Among those with previous c-section as the sole indication for surgery, 85.4% presented as either urgent or emergent cases. Postoperatively, 67.7% spent less than 4 d at the hospital and 96.1% had no postoperative complications before discharge. Approximately 10% (59/572) of neonates were admitted to the neonatal unit, with the most common reason being neonatal infection (59.6%, n = 31). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that previous delivery via c-section was the primary indication for c-section and that most of these cases were emergent or urgent on presentation. This study highlights the need for further research to explore the feasibility, safety, and appropriateness of vaginal birth after cesarean in rural district hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Long travel times from health center to hospital reduce caesarean section access: a study from Kirehe District, Rwanda.

Introduction: timely access to safe cesarean section (c-section) delivery can save the lives of mothers and neonates. This paper explores how distance affects c-section access in rural sub-Saharan Africa, where women in labor present to health centers before being referred to district hospitals for surgical care. Methods: this study included all adult women delivering via c-section between April 2017 and March 2018 in Kirehe District, Rwanda. We assessed the association between travel times and village-level c-section rates. Results: the estimated travel time from home-to-health center was 26 minutes (IQR: 13, 41) and from health center-to-hospital was 43 minutes (IQR: 2, 59). There was no significant association between travel time from home-to-health center and c-section rates (RR=1.01, p=0.42), but the association was significant for health center-to-hospital travel times (RR=0.96, p=0.01); for every 15-minute increase in travel time, there was a 4% decrease in c-sections for a health center catchment area. Conclusion: in the context of decentralized health services, minimizing health center to hospital referral barriers is of utmost importance for improving c-section access in rural sub-Saharan Africa.