Severe maternal outcomes of caesarean delivery in South Africa: A scoping review

Abstract

Caesarean delivery is a surgical intervention carried out in order to save the life of a pregnant woman and her child, however, this has led to its indiscriminate usage over the decades, with rates as high as 73.6% in the South African private sector. A concerning issue is the increasing evidence that caesarean delivery at a certain threshold does not yield any maternal or fetal benefits, but rather, is associated with severe maternal morbidity and mortality, especially when performed without medical necessity. This creates a challenge for meeting the sustainable development goal 3.1 that focuses on reducing global maternal mortality. Achieving a maximum beneficial rate for caesarean delivery in South Africa requires a deep understanding of the possible outcomes associated with it. Therefore, this scoping review systematically maps out evidence on the effects of caesarean delivery on maternal morbidity and mortality in South Africa in women with term pregnancy.