Rate of caesarean section as a process indicator of safe-motherhood programmes: The case of Kenya

The study assessed the value of currently-available data on the rates of ca esarean section as an indicator of safe-motherhood programmes. Data, collec ted through the routine health information system of the Ministry of Health , Kenya, were used for analyzing the available process indicators. The meth odology of this study illustrates both usefulness and limitations of readil y-available healthcare information. The rate of hospital-based caesarean se ction was 6.3% of all births (range 0.3-37%), whereas the rate of populatio n-based caesarean section was 0.95% (range 0.1%-4%). The rate of population -based caesarean section indicates a significant unmet need for obstetric c are in the rural areas and may be a useful tool for monitoring progress on safe-motherhood initiatives in poor settings. Rates of population-based cae sarean section are low in Kenya, especially in the rural areas. The rate of caesarean section may be a valuable process indicator for identifying the gaps in obstetric care and may be used for advocating improvements for heal thcare to the relevant authorities.