Objective To study the types of delivery according to the category of patie
nt admission and the most frequently reported indications for cesarean sect
ions. Methods in a retrospective survey of deliveries performed in the muni
cipality of Ribeirao Preto. Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 1986 to 1995, the type
of delivery; category of admission and recorded diagnoses were assessed Dat
a were obtained from the Center of Hospital Data Processing of the Departme
nt of Social Medicine in the University of Sao Paulo. Ribeirao Preto.