Maternal health specialists have cautioned pregnant women with narrow pelvises against rejecting caesarean section delivery due to cultural and religious beliefs.
They highlighted that attempting vaginal delivery through a small pelvis can result in numerous complications that pose risks to both the mother and the baby, potentially leading to fatalities.
A caesarean section is frequently deemed necessary when a conventional delivery could endanger the lives of either the mother or baby. Various factors that may warrant this procedure include obstructed labor, twin pregnancies, and hypertension.
Other factors include breech birth, as well as issues with the placenta or umbilical cord.
The decision to perform a caesarean section may be influenced by the shape of the mother’s pelvis or a history of previous c-section deliveries.
According to the specialists, women with small pelvises often have limited chances of delivering vaginally and should be offered a caesarean section instead.
Naijatraffic learnt that, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Solomon Avidime, stated that women with petite pelvises are usually those who are naturally shorter in stature.
He noted that despite having a small pelvis, women may still be able to deliver vaginally if the size of their baby is manageable.
Avidime cautioned against the risks associated with attempting vaginal delivery with a big baby and a small pelvis, emphasizing the importance of considering the well-being of both the mother and the child in such situations.
Furthermore, he mentioned cases where women have declined the offer of a cesarean section due to cultural or religious reasons, resulting in unfavorable outcomes including infant mortality and maternal complications.
Avidime also highlighted that babies forced through a tight birth canal may endure deformities later in life, stressing the significance of appropriate medical intervention during childbirth.
Experts advocate for the timely access and availability of cesarean sections as a crucial measure in reducing maternal mortality rates and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of decreasing maternal deaths to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
The World Health Organization notes that in regions where at least 10% of women undergo caesarean sections, there is a notable reduction in maternal and neonatal fatalities, emphasizing the significance of ensuring such interventions are readily accessible.
According to the 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey, Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, indicating a significant gap in achieving the global health goal by 2030.
Avidime further emphasized, “In some cultural settings, women still want to deliver babies by themselves despite the high risk of complications.
“But education will go a long way to help people understand the fact that having cesarean delivery does not mean that the woman is weak because there are several reasons why caesarean sections are done.
“Sometimes, the babies are big and they may not be able to pass through the birth canal or they are too weak in the process of labour or they are not lying properly to be able to pass through the birth canal.
“So, in such circumstances, CS is offered to save the life of the woman and her baby.
The gynaecologist emphasized that obstructed labor, in addition to bleeding and high blood pressure, is a significant contributor to the high rates of maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.
He stressed the importance of making cesarean sections (CS) accessible to women in need, noting that many pregnant women and their husbands often decline the procedure due to financial constraints. This, he lamented, has resulted in numerous avoidable deaths of women and their babies, particularly in rural areas.
To address this, he urged the government to establish a comprehensive healthcare center in each political ward nationwide, equipped to provide CS and blood transfusion services to women.
