Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso

Background Objective: This study aimed to use the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) to assess caesarean section (CS) rates and other outcomes in eight referral hospitals in Burkina Faso before the implementation of non-clinical interventions to reduce unnecessary CSs.Design This is a cro...

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Main Authors: Ana Pilar Betran, Alexandre Dumont, Charles Kaboré, Michael Robson, Marion Ravit, Simon Tiendrebeogo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-03-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e086892.full
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author Ana Pilar Betran
Alexandre Dumont
Charles Kaboré
Michael Robson
Marion Ravit
Simon Tiendrebeogo
author_facet Ana Pilar Betran
Alexandre Dumont
Charles Kaboré
Michael Robson
Marion Ravit
Simon Tiendrebeogo
author_sort Ana Pilar Betran
collection DOAJ
description Background Objective: This study aimed to use the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) to assess caesarean section (CS) rates and other outcomes in eight referral hospitals in Burkina Faso before the implementation of non-clinical interventions to reduce unnecessary CSs.Design This is a cross-sectional study.Setting We conducted a 9-month prospective observational study on women who gave birth at eight referral hospitals in Burkina Faso between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2020.Participants We analysed 24 643 women who gave birth at the eight participating hospitals during the study period.Outcomes measures We reported the relative size, CS rate and absolute contribution of each Robson group. These indicators were calculated for both referred and non-referred women. Oxytocin administration and stillbirth rates were calculated for women without previous CS and with a single fetus at cephalic presentation at term (groups 1–4).Results Overall, 24 643 women gave birth at the eight participating hospitals during the 9- month study period. The overall CS rate was 30.6%. Women in spontaneous labour with a single fetus in the cephalic presentation at term without previous CS (groups 1 and 3) had high CS rates (26.5% and 15%, respectively), low oxytocin use (7.9% and 6.5%, respectively), and high stillbirth rates (3.4% and 3.9%, respectively). These subgroups of women were major contributors to the overall CS rate.Conclusion Our results indicate that, in referral hospitals in Burkina Faso, the CS practice for referred women in groups 1 and 3 of the TGCS should receive special attention. These results also reveal areas for clinical improvement to reduce primary CS, especially in nulliparous women. The use of the TGCS is important in low-income countries where low CS rates at the population level may conceal suboptimal labour management in healthcare facilities.Trial registeration number ISRCTN67214403.
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spelling doaj-art-3608bfd0de0344558600ee883b80389f2025-08-20T02:49:36ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-03-0115310.1136/bmjopen-2024-086892Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina FasoAna Pilar Betran0Alexandre Dumont1Charles Kaboré2Michael Robson3Marion Ravit4Simon Tiendrebeogo52 UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland5 CEPED, Paris Cité Univesity, Research Institute for Development, Inserm, Paris, France1 Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso4 Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Maternity Hospital and University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland3 Université de Paris, IRD, Centre population et développement, F-75006 Paris, France1 Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoBackground Objective: This study aimed to use the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) to assess caesarean section (CS) rates and other outcomes in eight referral hospitals in Burkina Faso before the implementation of non-clinical interventions to reduce unnecessary CSs.Design This is a cross-sectional study.Setting We conducted a 9-month prospective observational study on women who gave birth at eight referral hospitals in Burkina Faso between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2020.Participants We analysed 24 643 women who gave birth at the eight participating hospitals during the study period.Outcomes measures We reported the relative size, CS rate and absolute contribution of each Robson group. These indicators were calculated for both referred and non-referred women. Oxytocin administration and stillbirth rates were calculated for women without previous CS and with a single fetus at cephalic presentation at term (groups 1–4).Results Overall, 24 643 women gave birth at the eight participating hospitals during the 9- month study period. The overall CS rate was 30.6%. Women in spontaneous labour with a single fetus in the cephalic presentation at term without previous CS (groups 1 and 3) had high CS rates (26.5% and 15%, respectively), low oxytocin use (7.9% and 6.5%, respectively), and high stillbirth rates (3.4% and 3.9%, respectively). These subgroups of women were major contributors to the overall CS rate.Conclusion Our results indicate that, in referral hospitals in Burkina Faso, the CS practice for referred women in groups 1 and 3 of the TGCS should receive special attention. These results also reveal areas for clinical improvement to reduce primary CS, especially in nulliparous women. The use of the TGCS is important in low-income countries where low CS rates at the population level may conceal suboptimal labour management in healthcare facilities.Trial registeration number ISRCTN67214403.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e086892.full
spellingShingle Ana Pilar Betran
Alexandre Dumont
Charles Kaboré
Michael Robson
Marion Ravit
Simon Tiendrebeogo
Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso
BMJ Open
title Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso
title_full Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso
title_fullStr Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso
title_full_unstemmed Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso
title_short Can the Robson Ten Group Classification System improve the understanding of maternity care in low-income countries? A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso
title_sort can the robson ten group classification system improve the understanding of maternity care in low income countries a cross sectional study in burkina faso
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e086892.full
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