Interaction between the cesarean section rate and the use of the Robson classification in a tertiary medical unit

Miguel A. Serrano-Berrones, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Coordination, Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Mexico City, Mexico

Introduction: The Robson classification has gained recognition, and a growing number of countries are using it to understand and track cesarean section rates. Objective: Analyze the indication for cesarean section, using Robson’s 10-group classification system considering maternal sociodemographic and medical characteristics. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study carried out on pregnant patients treated between January 01, 2019, and December 31, 2023, at the Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos of the Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, using the Robson index. Results: Four thousand three hundred and fifty-six patients were obtained, of which 3060 completed their pregnancy by cesarean section and 1296 by delivery, which represents 80.20% and 19.80%, respectively. When using the Robson classification method, the groups with the highest number of cesarean sections were group 5 with 780 (25.49%), group 10 with 598 (19.54%), and group 1 with 410 (13.39%). Conclusion: The use of the Robson index identified three groups as those with the highest number of cesarean sections. This frequency is due to being a reference and highly complex hospital. It should be remembered that group 5 has reports of studies of vaginal birth after cesarean section, but with contributing risk factors to consider.

Keywords: Robson index. Cesarean section. Delivery.