Background. Primary cesarean birth rates were high among women who were either nulliparous (Group 2) or multiparous (Group 4) with a single, cephalic, term fetus who were induced, augmented, or underwent cesarean birth before labor in our study cohort. Objectives. The objective of this analysis was to determine what risk factors were associated with cesarean birth among Robson Groups 2 and 4. Methods. This study was a prospective hospital-based cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of 1,000 women who delivered at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital in the summer and fall of 2019. Results. Women in Robson Groups 2 and 4 comprised 11.4% (n = 113) of the total population (n = 993). The cesarean birth rate in Robson Group 2 (n = 56) was 37.5% and in Robson Group 4 (n = 57) was 24.6%. In Robson Group 2, of all prelabor cesareans (n = 5), one birth was elective cesarean by maternal request; the intrapartum cesarean births (n = 16) mostly had a maternal or fetal indication (93.8%), with one birth (6.2%) indicated by “failed induction or augmentation,” which was a combined indication. In Robson Group 4, all 4 women delivered by prelabor cesarean had a maternal indication (one was missing data), and 3 of the intrapartum cesareans were indicated by “failed induction or augmentation.” In multivariable modeling of Robson Group 2, having a labor duration of “not applicable” increased the risk of cesarean delivery (RR 2.9, CI (1.5, 5.4)). The odds of requiring maternal antibiotics was the only notable outcome with increased risk (RR 11.1, CI (1.9, 64.9)). In multivariable modeling of Robson Group 4, having a labor longer than 24 hours trended towards a significant association with cesarean (RR 3.6, CI (0.9, 14.3)), and women had a more dilated cervix on admission trended toward having a lower odds of cesarean (RR 0.8, CI (0.6, 1.0)). Conclusion. Though rates of primary cesarean birth among women who have a term, single, cephalic fetus and are induced, augmented, or undergone prelabor cesarean birth are high, those that occur intrapartum seem to be associated with appropriate risk factors and indications, though we cannot say this definitely as we did not perform an audit. More research is needed on the prelabor subgroup as a separate entity.

Twenty‐five years after its publication, the Three Delays Model still appears to be a relevant model for rural southwest Ethiopia.

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Introduction. Surgical physician extenders are used in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa where there is a lack of surgical providers. Methods. We tested characteristics associated with and outcomes of births attended by an integrated emergency surgical officers (IESOs) as compared to midwives and physician providers. Results. Of 1,000 women in our convenience sample, data on birth attendant was missing on 5 women (0.5%). Of the remaining women, almost three-fourths (73.6%, n = 732) of women were attended by a midwife, almost a quarter were attended by an IESO (24.4%, n = 243), 10 women were attended by a physician with a General Practitioner level of training (1.0%), 5 women were delivered by an Ob/Gyn resident (0.5%), and 5 women were attended by an Ob/Gyn (0.5%). Women had a higher likelihood of being attended by an IESO than a midwife if they underwent forceps-assisted (RR 88.4, p < 0.05 ), vacuum-assisted (RR 45.2, p < 0.05 ), or cesarean birth (RR 161.8, p < 0.05 ) as compared to an unassisted vaginal birth. IESOs are performing more operative vaginal and cesarean births than other delivery providers. Outcomes of their deliveries are worse than those of midwives, but this is likely due to the acuity level of the patients and not the provider type.

Background To observe prevalence, characteristics and outcomes associated with operative vaginal birth (OVB). Methods We compared spontaneous vaginal birth with OVB. Results Of 993 women, 759 (76.4%) experienced vaginal birth; 716 were spontaneous (94.3%), 14 (1.8%) underwent forceps-assisted birth and 29 (3.8%) had vacuum assistance. In a multivariable model of OVB (forceps and vacuum), compared with a midwife, general practitioners (OR 5.6, p = 0.04) and integrated emergency surgical officers (OR 42.8, p = 0.001) were more likely to attend. Women experiencing OVB were more likely to receive local anesthesia (OR 3.0, p = 0.009). Conclusion OVB is used sparingly but safely at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital.