[Risk factors in cesarean section].

Background: Improvement of surgical techniques, innovation, and technological development have increased the frequency of cesarean section.

Objective: To identify the sociodemographics, obstetrical, attention and medical practice factors of risk most frequently associated to cesarean section.

Patients And Method: From January to June 2007, we carried out a study of cases and controls with 222 cases of cesarean section and 358 controls of vaginal childbirth in Hospital General no. 6 of Ciudad Juárez. We compared frequency of sociodemographics, obstetrical, attention, and medical practice variables, by means of chi2 and Fisher exact tests; association among these variables and cesarean section was considered with odds ratio. In all cases chosen confidence interval was 95%.

Results: Risk factors associated with cesarean section were: maternal age over 28 years, previous cesarean section, complicated pregnancy, fetal suffering, cephalopelvic disproportion, deficient prenatal care; fetal podalic version, oxytocin administration, abnormal amniotic fluid, double- or triple-circle umbilical cord; patient attended by a gynecologist with more than 16 years of experience and by a resident; and medical care in evening shift. There was no association with age, menarche, beginning of sexual relationships, body mass index, smoking, or addictions.

Conclusions: Risk factors associated with cesarean section were: previous cesarean section and patient attended by a gynecologist with more than 16 years of experience and by a resident.