Maternal and Perinatal Mortality and Complications Associated With Caesarean Section in Low-income and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Soha Sobhy, D. Arroyo-Manzano, Nilaani Murugesu, Gayathri Karthikeyan, Vinay Kumar, Inderjeet Kaur, Eduardo J. Fernández, Sirisha Rao Gundabattula, Ana Pilar Betrán, Khalid S. Khan, Javier Zamora, Shakila Thangaratinam
Abstract
( Lancet . 2019;393:1973–1982) The vast majority (99%) of maternal deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). While cesarean section access is an important factor for improving maternal care, cesarean sections sometimes are performed too often. Lack of skilled medical workers and resources in LMICs make complications related to cesarean section even more severe than in high-income countries (HICs). There is a lack of large studies in LMICs on maternal and neonatal deaths after cesarean section. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the risk of mortality in women from LMICs after undergoing cesarean section. In addition, risk factors for maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality following cesarean section were investigated.