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Table 1 Baseline characteristic, indications for cesarean section, anesthesia providers, prescribing staff and patients whose drugs were administered as prescribed

From: Postoperative pain after cesarean section: assessment and management in a tertiary hospital in a low-income country

Characteristics (N)

 

Frequency (n)

Percentage

Age (N = 326)

≤20

65

20.0

21–30

198

61

≥31

63

19

Parity* (N = 325)

First time pregnancy

96

30

2

102

31

≥3

127

39

Common indications for cesarean section**

 Fetal distress#

 (N = 333)

No

301

90

Yes

32

10

 Obstructed labor***

 (N = 333)

No

244

23

Yes

89

27

 Previous C-section

 (N = 333)

No

210

63

Yes

123

37

 Big baby****

 (N = 333)

No

309

93

Yes

24

7

 Prolonged labor##

(N = 333)

No

311

93

Yes

22

7

Care practices

 Anesthesia provider

 (N = 328)

@Senior house officer

57

18

@@Anesthetic officer

237o

72

Anesthesiologist

34

10

 Prescribing staff

 (N = 328)

Surgeon

310

95

Anesthetic provider

18

5

 Patients whose Drugs were administered as prescribed (N = 297)

No

173

58

Yes

124

42

  1. Key: *Number of pregnancies carried above 28 weeks, **Most of the patients had more than one indication for cesarean section, ***Obstructed labor referred to failure of labor to progress (no change in cervical dilation and descent of fetus) despite good uterine contractions for more than 4 h, ****Big baby was any fetus ≥4kgs diagnosed by ultra sound or clinical examination, #Fetal distress referred to any fetal heart rate below 120 or above 160, ##Prolonged labor referred to any patient in active labor (cervical dilation greater than 4) for ≥14 h, @Senior House officer (SHO) is a Masters of Medicine in anesthesia trainee (also referred to as a resident), @@Anesthetic Officer a non-physician anesthesia provider with a diploma training in anesthesia, @@@Anesthesiologist is a physician who has completed Masters of Medicine in anesthesia training