Gestational Risk as a Determining Factor for Cesarean Section according to the Robson Classification Groups.

Objective:  To analyze and compare the frequency of cesarean sections and vaginal deliveries through the Robson Classification in pregnant women attended at a tertiary hospital in two different periods.

Methods:  Cross-sectional, retrospective study of birth records, comprising 4,010 women, conducted from January 2014 to December 2015 in the only public regional referral hospital for the care of high- risk pregnancies, located in Southern Brazil.

Results:  The overall cesarean section rate reached 57.5% and the main indication was the existence of a previous uterine cesarean scar. Based on the Robson Classification, groups 5 (26.3%) and 10 (17.4%) were the most frequent ones. In 2015, there was a significant increase in the frequency of groups 1 and 3 ( < 0.001), when compared with the previous year, resulting in an increase in the number of vaginal deliveries ( < 0.0001) and a reduction in cesarean section rates.

Conclusion:  The Robson Classification proved to be a useful tool to identify the profile of parturients and the groups with the highest risk of cesarean sections in different periods in the same service. Thus, it allows monitoring in a dynamic way the indications and delivery routes and developing actions to reduce cesarean rates according to the characteristics of the pregnant women attended.