Length of hospital stays after caesarean section delivery and associated factors in Northeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the length of hospital stay after caesarean delivery and the associated factors from 15 March to 15 May 2021. DESIGN: We conducted an institution-based, cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a government hospital in Northeast Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted among 405 mothers who delivered by caesarean section. All mothers who delivered by caesarean section at the hospital during the study period and who consented to participate were included in the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME: The primary outcome of this study was length of hospital stay following caesarean section delivery. The secondary outcomes were factors associated with length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The overall mean length of hospital stay after caesarean delivery was 2.81 (±1.72) days. Gestational age at birth less than 38 weeks (B=0.547), being hypertensive (B=1.235) and having postoperative complications (B=0.909) were significantly associated with length of hospital stay following caesarean delivery at a 0.05 level of significance. CONCLUSION: In this study, the mean length of hospital stay following caesarean delivery was 2.8 days. Women with hypertension, gestational age at birth less than 38 weeks and postoperative complications have prolonged length of hospital stay. Healthcare professionals should identify those mothers at risk of prolonged length of hospital stay following caesarean delivery and implement preventive strategies to reduce the clinical as well as economic burden posed by prolonged length of hospital stay. Moreover, researchers should conduct further multicentre longitudinal follow-up studies.