Premium
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Indication for Primary Cesarean Delivery at Term: Experience at One U.S. Institution
Author(s) -
Washington Sierra,
Caughey Aaron B.,
Cheng Yvonne W.,
Bryant Allison S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
birth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.233
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1523-536X
pISSN - 0730-7659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-536x.2012.00530.x
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , cesarean delivery , odds , obstetrics , cohort , gynecology , pregnancy , retrospective cohort study , vaginal delivery , logistic regression , surgery , genetics , biology
Background Black and L atina women in the U nited S tates are known to undergo cesarean delivery at a higher rate than other women. We sought to explore the role of medical indications for cesarean delivery as a potential explanation for these differences. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 11,034 primiparas delivering at term at the U niversity of C alifornia, S an F rancisco, between 1990 and 2008. We used multivariable analyses to evaluate racial and ethnic differences in risks of, and indications for, cesarean delivery. Results The overall rate of cesarean delivery in our cohort was 21.9 percent. Black and L atina women were at significantly higher odds of undergoing cesarean delivery than white women (adjusted odds ratio or AOR : 1.54; 95% CI : 1.30, 1.83, and 1.21; 95% CI : 1.03, 1.43, respectively). Black women were at significantly higher odds of undergoing cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal heart tracings than white women ( AOR : 2.19; 95% CI : 1.55, 3.09), and black women ( AOR : 1.55; 95% CI : 1.21, 1.98), L atina women ( AOR : 1.48; 95% CI : 1.19, 1.85), and A sian women ( AOR : 1.47; 95% CI : 1.22, 1.85) were at significantly higher odds of undergoing cesarean delivery for failure to progress. Black, L atina, and A sian women were at significantly lower odds of undergoing cesarean delivery for malpresentation than white women ( AOR : 0.56; 95% CI : 0.34, 0.89, 0.66; 95% CI : 0.44, 0.98, and 0.55; 95% CI : 0.40, 0.76, respectively). Conclusions Racial and ethnic differences exist in specific indications for cesarean delivery among primiparas. Clarifying the possible reasons for increased cesareans for nonreassuring fetal heart tracing in black women, in particular, may help to decrease excess cesarean deliveries in this racial and ethnic group. ( BIRTH 39:2 J une 2012)