Author(s)

Mbarnjuk Aoudi Stéphane^1,2*, Kabko Mbargang Georges³, Ngalame Alphonse Nyong^4*, Ourtchingh Clovis^1,5, Mangala Nkwele Fulbert⁶, Anicet Gakdang Ladibe⁷, Tameh Theodore Yangsi⁸, Neng Humphry Tatah⁴, Koudjou Blaise⁵, Halle-Ekane Gregory Edie⁹

¹Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Garoua, Garoua, Cameroon.
²Gynecology & Obstetrics Unit, Garoua General Hospital, Garoua, Cameroon.
³Department of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁴Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁵Gynecology & Obstetrics Unit, Maroua Regional Hospital, Maroua, Cameroon.
⁶Nkongsamba Regional Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁷Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁸Nkongsamba Regional Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
⁹Douala General Hospital, Dean Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

Caesarean section (CS) is a surgical procedure performed to remove a fetus from the mother’s uterus through an incision on the abdominal wall, then on the uterine wall. The indications of CS vary not only between countries, but also from one hospital to another and from one team to another within the same hospital. Despite advances in asepsis and anesthesia/resuscitation technics, there are still complications of varying severity inherent to the gravid-puerperal state on one hand and the technics used on the other, irrespective of the operative indication. Thus, the present study was carried out with the objectives of determining the prevalence, identifying the indications, and evaluating the morbidity linked to caesarean sections in our environment. Cameroon has also set up a health voucher program in its northern region, aimed at reducing maternal and fetus morbidity and mortality. The program aims to improve financial access in antenatal care and deliveries, including caesarean sections, in this low-income region of the country. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection, from February 1, 2022, to May 31, 2022. We included all women who gave birth by caesarean section. In our study series, out of 905 parturient admissions into the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 226 were caesarian cases. The overall frequency of CS during our study period was 25%. Fetal indications were dominated by cephalopelvic disproportion and non-reassuring fetal heart in 17.3% and 13.7% of cases respectively. Intraoperative complications were dominated by hemorrhage (15.5%). In our study, we noted an 11.1% of prevalence perinatal mortality. Cameroon is a low-income country with limited financial resources, especially in the Northern region. The health voucher program has improved financial access to caesarean sections for parturient in northern Cameroon, and consequently to emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

Caesarean Section, Health Voucher, Cephalon-Pelvic Disproportion, Hemorrhage

Stéphane, M. , Georges, K. , Nyong, N. , Clovis, O. , Fulbert, M. , Ladibe, A. , Yangsi, T. , Tatah, N. , Blaise, K. and Edie, H. (2023) Prevalence, Indications and Morbidity of Caesarean Sections in a Referral Hospital of the Health Voucher Program: The Case of Garoua Regional Hospital in the Northern Region of Cameroon. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 13, 1949-1964. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2023.1312165.