Patterns of various modes of delivery in relation to presence of different risk factors in term pregnant mothers--a case-control study

A case-control study, was carried out, which aimed to determine whether a relation exists between risk factors present in mother and the mode of delivery i.e., outcome. Cases were those mothers who had one or more risk factors present during pregnancy (namely, short stature, malpresentation, antepartum haemorrhage, pre-eclamptic toxaemia/eclampsia, anaemia-haemoglobin less than 10 g/dl, twins, bad obstetric history, prolonged pregnancy, history of previous caesarean section and instrumental delivery, pregnancy associated with general diseases, prolonged difficult labour and RH-iso-immunisation). Controls were those mothers who did not have any of the above mentioned risk factors. Total of 250 cases and 250 controls were taken. Results showed that surgical and instrumental deliveries were strongly associated with presence of risk factors (odd's ratio: 5.94; attributable risks: 72%). Out of risk factors among cases, most common indication of caesarean section, was previous caesarean section followed by malpresentation, prolonged difficult labour and short statured mothers in descending order.