Robson Classification System: An Essential Tool for Evaluating Caesarean Section Indications and Implications at LUMHS

Abstract

Background: The rise in the number of caesarean section (CS) deliveries worldwide has raised questions about its suitability and effects on the health outcomes of mothers and newborns. Consequently, healthcare professionals have been exploring standardized approaches for assessing the necessity of CS procedures to promote efficient use of this surgical intervention. The Robson Classification System has become a beneficial resource for classifying CS indications and supporting efforts to enhance the quality of obstetric care. Objective: To evaluate the utility of the Robson Classification System in assessing caesarean section indications and its implications at LUMHS. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: This study was done at Gynae and OBS department of Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro Pakistan. Duration: Three-month period from November 2020 to February 2021. Methods: Women who underwent CS deliveries with available data necessary for categorizing them into the ten groups of the Robson Classification System were included. After undergoing cesarean sections, patients were screened to classify them according to the Robson 10-group system. The information obtained was strictly used for the study's objectives and treated with confidentiality. Subsequently, the collected data were inputted into SPSS version 26 for analysis. Results: The overall rate of CS was 51.2%. Mean age of the patients was 36.73+2.43 years. The highest contributors to the CS rate were in women with preterm singleton cephalic term pregnancies (group 10) 31.7% and multiparous; single term pregnancy with one and more previous caesarean section around 5 a and b) 31.9%, followed by nulliparous, single, cephalic, ≥37 weeks, spontaneous labor (group 1) 11.2%, (group 2b) 8.1%, (group 3) 5.7% and (group 4) 4.0%. Conclusion: The CS rate was observed to the highly frequent, with Robson groups 5 and 10 being the primary drivers of this heightened rate. Initiatives aimed at decreasing the initial CS occurrence by enhancing the management of both spontaneous and induced labors, as well as strengthening clinical protocols to promote vaginal birth after CS, are anticipated to yield the most substantial impact on reducing the CS rate.