Enablers and barriers to post-discharge follow-up among women who have undergone a caesarean section: experiences from a prospective cohort in rural Rwanda

Table 2 Clinical characteristics of study participants (n = 586)

Variables	Frequency	Percent
Co-morbidity^&
No	571	97.4
Yes	15	2.6
Anaesthesia type
General	14	2.4
Loco-regional	572	97.6
Indication to C-section*
Foetal distress	189	32.3
Previous scar	173	29.5
Prolonged labour	68	11.6
Malpresentation	80	13.7
Obstructed labour	70	12.0
Cord and membrane dystocia	45	7.7
Hypertensive disorders	7	1.2
Uterine pre/rupture	8	1.4
Hypotonic dysfunction	21	3.6
Other indications	13	2.2
Post-operative complications**
No	574	98.0
Yes	12	2.0
Total length of stay (LOS)
Within 3 days	338	57.7
More than 3 days	248	42.3
Post-operative LOS
Within 3 days	423	73.2
4–7 days	163	27.8
Duration of post-surgery antibiotic therapy
No post-operative antibiotic	21	3.6
1–3 days	442	75.4
More than 3 days	123	21.0
Counselling data collector
Male data collectors	493	84.1
Female data collector	86	14.7
Missing	7	1.2
Was it raining on the patient's appointment day?
No	545	93.0
Yes	41	7.0

^& Comorbidities included HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension and other cardio-vascular disorders
^* = Percent total greater that 100% due to possibility of more than 1 indication for a C-section decision
^** = Post-operative complications included haemorrhage, fever, organ disfunction such as respiratory depression or urinary dysfunction, wound dehiscence, return to operating room, and any other post-operative abnormality diagnosed post-operatively during the hospital stay

ISSN: 1472-6963