1. Rising rates of cesarean delivery in Ecuador: Socioeconomic and institutional determinants over two decades.
- Author
-
Jahnke JR, Houck KM, Bentley ME, and Thompson AL
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Ecuador epidemiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Logistic Models, Maternal Age, Middle Aged, Obstetric Labor Complications epidemiology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications epidemiology, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult, Cesarean Section statistics & numerical data, Cesarean Section trends, Hospitals, Parity
- Abstract
Background: Ecuador's cesarean delivery rate far exceeds that recommended by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Using data from three iterations of Ecuador's nationally representative, population-based survey Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (ENSANUT/ENDEMAIN), spanning 23 years, this study examines women's mode of delivery outcomes by sociodemographic characteristics and hospital type (private, public, social security) in light of Ecuador's major health care reform over the past two decades., Methods: Using data from the 1994, 2004, and 2012 iterations of the data set, we analyzed trends in cesarean delivery based on province, year, and institution of care. Logistic regression was used to test the odds of cesarean delivery based on hospital type, sociodemographics, and birth complications for the full sample and primiparous women. Predicted probabilities were derived from this model., Results: Ecuador's cesarean rate increased from 22% in 1989 to 41% in 2012. From 2008 to 2012, the probability of cesarean delivery in private centers was significantly higher than in public centers, and from 2009 to 2012, the probability of cesarean delivery in social security centers was significantly higher than in public centers. Higher maternal age, income, education, and parity, earlier prenatal care initiation, and more prenatal visits were associated with risk for cesarean delivery., Conclusions: To decrease the adverse effects of cesarean delivery for women and their babies, cesarean delivery should be reduced. Future research should investigate how incentive structures are used and how medical indication is defined within health institutions in Ecuador., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF