The association between household socioeconomic status and cesarean section (C-section) deliveries among primiparous mothers aged 15-49 years who delivered in health facilities in Bangladesh.

Sammanfattning

Abstract: Background and Objective Caesarean section (C-section) is an essential obstetric intervention that can reduce maternal and newborn mortality when medically needed. In recent years, Bangladesh has witnessed one of the fastest increases in C-section deliveries in South Asia, above the recommended threshold and raising concerns about inequities in facility-based maternal healthcare utilization. These Socioeconomic disparities may significantly affect the prevalence of Csection utilization, especially among primiparous mothers. This study aimed to examine the association between household socioeconomic status and C-section delivery among primiparous women aged 15–49 years who gave birth in healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized secondary data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022. A total of 1,943 primiparous women with facility-based first births were included. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Overall, 69% of primiparous women who gave birth in facilities had a C-section delivery. The prevalence increased from 55.5% among the poorest women to 76.5% among the richest women. Women from middle, richer, and richest households showed significantly higher odds of undergoing C-section delivery compared to the poorest group. Maternal age ≥25 years and higher educational attainment were strongly associated with an increased probability of C-section delivery. Conclusion Household socioeconomic status was significantly associated with C-section deliveries among primiparous women in facilities in Bangladesh, highlighting persistent socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of facility-based maternal healthcare.