Comparative Study on Caesarian and Normal Delivery Childbirth in Bangladesh

Md. Shohel Rana^*, Md. Rasel Hossain, Nilufa Aktar, Kabir Hossain, Bashirul Alam, Asma-Ul-Hosna  

Department of Statistics, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh.

DOI: 10.4236/ojs.2021.114033                

Abstract

The study is concerned with caesarian and normal delivery and its effectiveness on childbirth which has more impact on Bangladesh. We identified that, higher educated and higher income families are choosing caesarian section for childbirth because of improved safety of surgical skill to reduce the mortality rate. Although expensive, most caesarian operations are performed in private hospitals for modern medical equipment, experienced doctors and advanced medical care. A questionnaire survey design was applied in order to make a comparative study on caesarian and normal delivery childbirth. Respondents from all over Bangladesh participated in the survey. We collect 281 data from the respondents of different districts of Bangladesh by area sampling. We use descriptive and analytical research designs in determining the comparative study on caesarian and normal delivery childbirth in Bangladesh. The results of study show that the variance of children taken by caesarian delivery is less than children taken by normal delivery and children taken by caesarian delivery increase due to increased family income. It has been found that 39.5% (111) respondents are from the Urban area and 60.5% (171) from the rural zone. We can say that more than 50% of our respondents are well-educated. We also found that 53.4% of the respondents do not face any problem in C/S. We found that family income has a positive linear relationship with the C-section deliveries, which means that higher incoming people tend to have the C-section more. Finally, we observed that change in rate of caesarian delivery due to changing living places and normal delivery is recommended for the next generation. By Meta analysis we found that number of cesarean delivery baby is independent of locality and education level.

Keywords

Caesarian Delivery, Normal Delivery, Operation, Meta Analysis

1. Introduction

Generally considered safe, caesarian section does have more risk than caesarian births. Plus moms can go home sooner and recover quicker after normal delivery but improve safety of surgical skills to reduce the mortality rate in caesarian delivery.

Cesarean delivery is a surgical intervention designed to prevent or treat life-threatening maternal or fetal complications. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 5% - 15% of pregnancies would face life-threatening complications. When it is done on a timely basis, cesarean delivery provides a golden opportunity to prevent the adverse obstetric outcomes, including maternal death, stillbirth and nearly neonatal death, obstetric fistula, uterine prolapsed and sexual dissatisfaction [1]. Amount of death due to pregnancy is gradually decreasing worldwide, among all of these estimated deaths, one-fifth of the maternal deaths are recorded in southern Asia [2]. Delivery may occur either by caesarean or non-caesarean. Multiple factors associated with safe delivery practices, range from demographic to socio-economic. More than 70% of the deliveries took place at home, and only 32% of birth in Bangladesh were under safe and hygienic conditions. In recent years, caesarean delivery is one of the most common surgical procedures. Caesarean sections (C-section) are more common among first births (12.7%), births in urban areas (15.9%), and especially among births in the private sector (67.3%), whereas the public sector was 34.6%. The number of caesarean delivery has also been growing in many developed and developing countries and this increase has not been clinically justified. Over the last few years, the rates of C-section have risen substantially in many countries such as Brazil (30%), Chile (40%), the USA (24.4%) and Malaysia (15.7%). According to WHO, there is no justification for any region to have a caesarean rate higher than 10 - 15 [3].

Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in improving maternal and child health. The majority (79%) of Bangladeshi women now receive antenatal care and 36% receive postnatal care. In 2014, overall 37% of births were delivered to informal healthcare facilities including 22% births in private facilities, of which staggering 61% and 77% of births ended in CS, respectively. A number of factors may influence this increasing rate of CS in Bangladesh, including high rate of adolescent pregnancy (35%), increasing rate of late aged pregnancy (5%), improving educational and socio-economic status of mothers, and the ongoing dual nutritional burden (co-existing conditions of under and over nutrition) [4].

1.1. What Is Caesarian Delivery?

Caesarean section, also known as C-section, or caesarean delivery, is the surgical procedure by which a baby is delivered through an incision in the mother’s abdomen, often performed because vaginal delivery would put the baby or mother at risk [5].

1.2. What Is Normal Delivery?

A vaginal delivery is the birth of offspring in mammals through the vagina. It is the natural method of birth for all mammals except monotremes, which lay eggs. For humans, the average length of a hospital stay for a normal vaginal delivery is 36 - 48 hours. Surgery extends that stay [5].

2. Background of the Study

Amount of childbirth by caesarian are gradually increasing worldwide. The increasing rate of caesarian delivery than normal delivery because of improved safety of surgical skill to reduce pregnancy related mortality (Md. Iftakhar Parvej, Preferences between Caesarean Section and Normal Vaginal Delivery among the reproductive women in Bangladesh, 2021) [2]. In Bangladesh, the CS rate has increased more than eight-fold, from 2.7% in 2000 to 24% in 2014 (Mohammad Masudur Rahman, 2018) [6]. In the past few decades, a number of maternal health related strategies were adopted and implemented by the government of Bangladesh. Natural childbirth is in general, very safe but it becomes risky when a woman ignores her health care provider’s recommendation. This study concludes that the overall fetomaternal outcome is better in caesarean section than the patients who underwent vaginal delivery (M Khandoker, 2020) [7]. Negative effects of caesarian section & normal delivery on childbirth cause countless infant deaths each year in the world. The place (Government clinic or Private clinic) of caesarian operation used to find out the attitude of public and private hospitals in childbirth.

Caesarian delivery known as C-section is a surgical operation which is safer than normal delivery when the baby condition isn’t progressing/in distress/in abnormal position/problem with placenta. The process has now become most popular all over the world. In developing countries, like Bangladesh has also a significant role to give birth healthy baby. Maternal mortality rate decreased than that before by C-section. But it has more risk than normal delivery. Like tummy pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, heavy vaginal bleeding, blood clot in leg etc. Bangladesh Government has established Community Clinic (cc) to give births by normal delivery. In cc the number of normal deliveries conducted at 246.80% to 128, 36.26% in 2012 to 2016 [8]. In Dhaka the cost of normal delivery average is 1275 tk, 4703 tk in C-section where the monthly income of family is 4933 tk. That means every family bears the cost of 95.34% of their family income per C-section cost [9]. In 2004-2016 the rate of C-section increases from 4% to 31%. In 2016-2018 the rate is 51%. In 2018 the parents of Bangladesh paid $483 million cost for C-section which is medically unnecessary [10]. One of the major problems in modern health system is uncontrolled increase of caesarean section. This study examines the association of reported complications around delivery and socio-demographic, healthcare and spatial characteristics of mothers with CS.

3. Objectives

1) To know the pattern of caesarian and normal delivery of childbirth in Bangladesh.

2) To determine the influential factor of caesarian and normal delivery.

3) To make a comparative study between caesarian and normal delivery.

4) To determine the family income effect on caesarian and normal delivery childbirth in BD.

4. Methodology

4.1. Data Collection

We have collected the data by questionnaire method from all over the country by cluster sampling. The students of first year of the department of statistics, they are involved to collect the data from each of the selected cluster (district) of the country cover. We did collect 281 of total respondents those who are targeted population by our study.

4.2. Methods

The paper used descriptive and analytical research designs in determining the comparative study on caesarian and normal delivery childbirth in Bangladesh. Different types of graph were used to show the pattern of caesarian and normal delivery childbirth. Chi-square test and Pearson Correlation were applied to find out the significant relationship between study variables. Finally, Binary Logistic Regression was used to establish the effect of the independent variables on the dependent variable and Meta analysis used to find out the independent of number of cesarean delivery baby in locality and education level. The data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0.

5. Ethics Statement

We have committed to the respondent in questionnaire that the information which they have provided is very confidential and we have to use this data only research purpose not unethical purpose. All respondents that did consent use this information in study purpose only. For this reason, it did not need any approval from IRB. The data were analyzed anonymously.

6. Result and Discussion

Table 1 represents the frequency and percentage for all questionnaire variables according to their classification.

From the descriptive statistics Table 2, the variance of children taken by caesarian delivery is less than children taken by normal delivery. So we conclude that caesarian delivery is better than normal delivery childbirth.

Table 3 indicates, there is weekly linear relationship between family income and children taken by caesarian delivery with a positive slope that means increase caesarian delivery due to increase family income. Also weekly linear relationship occurs between family income and children taken by normal delivery

Table 1. Frequency and percentage for all study variables according to their classification.

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of some important variables.

Table 3. Correlation between normal delivery children and cesarean delivery children with family income.

with a negative slope, that means decrease normal delivery due to increase family income.

Table 4 means, there is weekly linear relationship between parent’s educational qualification and children taken by caesarian delivery with a positive slope that means increase caesarian delivery due to increase educational qualification and significant relationship with each other. On the other hand there are very weekly relationship educational qualification and normal delivery.

Table 5 shows that the facing problem in caesarian delivery is weakly correlated with recommendation for next generation significantly.

Table 6 means place of living is weakly correlated with both caesarian and normal delivery.

Regression analysis

The model is significant. The fitted regression model for those variables. Caesarian delivery = 1.008 + 0.037 * Living place. The slope 0.037 represents change of rate of caesarian delivery due to changing living places (Table 7).

Table 4. Correlation of cesarean delivery and normal delivery with educational qualification.

Table 5. Correlation of cesarean delivery and normal delivery with recommendation for the next generation.

Table 6. Correlation between residual and delivery process.

Chi-square test

This Chi-square test indicates the face problem in cesarean delivery and recommendation for next generation is significantly correlated (Table 8).

Cross tabulation analysis

The Chi-square test shows the place of cesarean delivery and facing problem is highly significant (Table 9).

Graphical representation

About 61% people live in urban area and 39% people live in rural area (Figure 1).

Figure 2 indicates about 87.5% women have 0 - 2 children, 11.7% women have 3 - 4 children and 0.7% women have 5 - 6 children in their family.

Table 7. Regression analysis of children taken by cesarean on place of residence.

^aDependent Variable: children taken by cesarean.

Table 8. Cross tabulation analysis.

^a2 cells (33.3%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 0.39.

Table 9. Cross tabulation analysis.

^a2 cells (33.3%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 0.86.

Figure 1. Pie diagram of place of residence.

Figure 2. Pie diagram of children taken by normal delivery.

Figure 3 indicates 25% respondents who have passed their graduation, 25% passed higher-secondary, 34% passed secondary, 12% passed primary and 4% illiterate during the study.

Figure 4 presents percentage of place of caesarian delivery.

Maximum caesarian delivery about 53% occurs in private clinic (Figure 5).

Figure 3. Percentage of educational qualification of respondent (Women).

Figure 4. Percentage of caesarian and normal delivery.

Figure 5. Percentage of place of caesarian delivery.

Figure 6 is positive trend that means normal delivery is recommended for next generation.

Binary Logistic regression analysis

This means, 27% people are facing problem in caesarian delivery in government clinic and 84% urban people are facing problem in caesarian delivery. 99% primary educated people are facing problem in caesarian delivery and 32% graduated people are facing problem in caesarian delivery. 45% people are taken baby by caesarian delivery and facing problem (Table 10).

Binary logistic regression Table 11 shows, 59% secondary educated people and 51% higher educated people are recommended caesarian delivery for the next generation. And 72% people who are taken children by caesarian delivery

Figure 6. Recommended for next generation.

Table 10. Binary Logistic regression analysis of some significant variables.

^aVariable(s) entered on step 1: place of caesarian delivery, where you from, education qualification, how many children do you have, children taken by caesarian, cost of caesarian.

recommended caesarian delivery for the next generation. 61% people recommended government clinic for caesarian delivery. The people who spend 54% for caesarian delivery are recommended caesarian delivery (Table 11).

Meta analysis

Let us consider, H₀: Number of cesarean baby independent of location and education level (Table 12).

H₁: Number of cesarean baby depends on location and education level.

We conduct the test at 5% level of significance.

Test statistics:

Table 11. Binary Logistic regression analysis of important variables.

^aVariable(s) entered on step 1: education qualification, children taken by caesarian, place of caesarian delivery, how many children do you have, family income per month, cost of caesarian.

Table 12. Meta analysis of number of cesarean delivery baby on locality and education level.

$x^2={\displaystyle \sum {\displaystyle \sum \frac{O_{ij}^2}{E_{ij}}}}-n$

For urban area:

$\begin{array}{c}{x}_1^2=\frac{3^2}{2.89}+\frac{0^2}{0.11}+\frac{0^2}{0}+\frac{{13}^2}{12.52}+\frac{0^2}{0.48}+\frac{{31}^2}{31.79}+\frac{2^2}{1.21}+\frac{{33}^2}{32.75}+\frac{1^2}{1.25}+\frac{{25}^2}{25.05}+\frac{1^2}{0.95}-109\\ =110.1982693-109\\ =1.198\left(P\text{value},P_1=0.878428\right)\end{array}$

The result is not significant at P < 0.05.

As P₁ = 0.878428 > 0.05 so H₀ is accepted.

For rural area:

$\begin{array}{c}{x}_2^2=\frac{{10}^2}{10.04}+\frac{1^2}{0.96}+\frac{{16}^2}{16.43}+\frac{2^2}{1.57}+\frac{{56}^2}{53.85}+\frac{3^2}{5.15}+\frac{{36}^2}{34.69}+\frac{2^2}{3.31}+\frac{{39}^2}{41.99}+\frac{7^2}{4.01}-172\\ =4.125\left(P\text{value},P_2=0.389353\right)\end{array}$

The result is not significant at P < 0.05.

AS P₂ = 0.389353 > 0.05 so accept H₀.

For conclusion using data of all location meta analysis can be performed by combining the P values of $x^2$ where combined P value is given by-

$\begin{array}{c}-2\ln P=-2\ln \left(P_1+P_2\right)\\ =-2\ln \left(0.878428\ast 0.389353\right)\\ =-2\ln \left(0.3420185771\right)\\ =2.146\end{array}$

Thus −2lnP is distributed as $x^2$ with 2K = (2 × 2) (2 location so K = 2) df. The tabulated value of $x^2$ at 5% level of significance with 4 df is 9.49 which is greater than $x^2$ (−2lnP). So H₀ is accepted.

The calculation can also be done by combining the values of calculated $x^2$ for urban and rural areas where combined $x^2$ is

$\begin{array}{c}{x}^2=x_1^2+x_2^2\\ =1.198+4.125\\ =5.323\end{array}$

This $x^2$ has (4 + 4) = 8 df, the tabulated value at 5% level of significance is 15.51 which are greater than combined $x^2$ so H₀ is accepted.

So this indicates that number of cesarean delivery baby is independent of locality and education level.

7. Conclusion

A caesarian section is a surgical delivery of a baby that involves making incisions in the mother’s abnormal wall and uterus. The purpose of the study is to provide a certain reference for the future pregnant women in Bangladesh. The study mainly focuses on the pattern of caesarian and normal delivery of childbirth in Bangladesh and the relationship between parent’s educational qualification and nature of childbirth. We found that about 80.4% of women recommend normal delivery for the next gradations. So that the significant finding is to make a decision for the policy maker where they can have initiative to ensure normal delivery in all kinds of clinic (Government and Private) in Bangladesh. Moreover, the physical condition of the pregnant woman is not considered when analyzing the factors affecting caesarean section and normal delivery.

Acknowledgements

We are giving special thanks to the students of the first year, Department of Statistics, Noakhali Science and Technology University. They can support us to collect the primary data from the field operation. We would like to thank the research cell, Noakhali Science and Technology University for funding to complete this research.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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