Caesarean section in the Islamic Republic of Iran: prevalence and some sociodemographic correlates/Cesarienne en Republique islamique d'Iran : prevalence et correlats sociodemographiques

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of caesarean section in the Islamic Republic of Iran in different provinces and to compare the sociodemographic characteristics of married women with and without caesarean section. Data were analysed from the Iranian Demographic and Health Survey of a representative sample of married women (n = 17 991) who delivered a baby between September 1998 and October 2000. Overall, 35.0% of deliveries were by caesarean section. Women having a caesarean section were older, better educated, married at a later age and with lower parity than those who delivered normally. Provincial variations in rates were significantly correlated with indices of socioeconomic development. Le but de cette etude etait d'examiner la prevalence de la cesarienne dans differentes provinces de la Republique islamique d'Iran et de comparer les caracteristiques sociodemographiques des femmes mariees ayant subi et n'ayant pas subi de cesarienne. Les donnees analysees provenaient de l'enquete demographique et sanitaire realisee en Iran sur un echantillon representatif de femmes mariees (n = 17 991) qui avaient accouche entre septembre 1998 et octobre 2000. Globalement, 35,0 % des accouchements avaient ete realises par cesarienne. Les femmes ayant subi une cesarienne etaient plus agees, plus instruites, s'etaient mariees plus tard et avaient une parite moins elevee que celles qui avaient accouche normalement. Il existait une correlation significative entre les variations provinciales des taux et les indices de developpement socioeconomique.