Burden of Caesarean Section deliveries in the United Arab Emirates: The Mutaba’ah Study
1
Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Since 1985, the international healthcare community has considered the ideal rate for caesarean sections (CS) to be between 10-15%1. However, CS rates have been rising globally, raising concerns about potential maternal and neonatal health risks. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), limited evidence exists on the burden of CS. This study describes the burden of CS among pregnant women using data from the Mutaba’ah Study.
METHODS:
This analysis utilized data from the Mutaba’ah Mother and Child Cohort Study, which follows women from the Emirati population from early pregnancy through postpartum. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and obstetric data were obtained through self-administered questionnaires and medical records. CS prevalence was estimated, and associations with parity, body mass index (BMI), and previous CS were assessed.
RESULTS:
A total of 5,646 mothers with singleton pregnancies were followed up to delivery between 2017 and 2024. The mean maternal age and gestational age at delivery were 31.4 ± 6.2 years and 38.5 ± 2.0 weeks, respectively. Around 23% of the participants were nulliparous, and nearly half were overweight or obese during their first trimester. The overall prevalence of CS was 32.2% (95% CI: 31.0–33.5%). CS was more common among nulliparous (35.3%) than among multiparous (31.3%) women, and among overweight or obese (36.2%) than among normal weight (25.0%) women. Of 830 women with a prior CS, 81.7% underwent repeat CS. Among those with cephalic presentation, the CS rate was 27.9%.
CONCLUSIONS:
The burden of CS among pregnant women from the Emirati population is substantial, exceeding the WHO’s recommended threshold. Higher CS prevalence among nulliparous and overweight or obese women highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote optimal delivery practices and reduce unnecessary surgical births in the UAE.
Since 1985, the international healthcare community has considered the ideal rate for caesarean sections (CS) to be between 10-15%1. However, CS rates have been rising globally, raising concerns about potential maternal and neonatal health risks. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), limited evidence exists on the burden of CS. This study describes the burden of CS among pregnant women using data from the Mutaba’ah Study.
METHODS:
This analysis utilized data from the Mutaba’ah Mother and Child Cohort Study, which follows women from the Emirati population from early pregnancy through postpartum. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and obstetric data were obtained through self-administered questionnaires and medical records. CS prevalence was estimated, and associations with parity, body mass index (BMI), and previous CS were assessed.
RESULTS:
A total of 5,646 mothers with singleton pregnancies were followed up to delivery between 2017 and 2024. The mean maternal age and gestational age at delivery were 31.4 ± 6.2 years and 38.5 ± 2.0 weeks, respectively. Around 23% of the participants were nulliparous, and nearly half were overweight or obese during their first trimester. The overall prevalence of CS was 32.2% (95% CI: 31.0–33.5%). CS was more common among nulliparous (35.3%) than among multiparous (31.3%) women, and among overweight or obese (36.2%) than among normal weight (25.0%) women. Of 830 women with a prior CS, 81.7% underwent repeat CS. Among those with cephalic presentation, the CS rate was 27.9%.
CONCLUSIONS:
The burden of CS among pregnant women from the Emirati population is substantial, exceeding the WHO’s recommended threshold. Higher CS prevalence among nulliparous and overweight or obese women highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote optimal delivery practices and reduce unnecessary surgical births in the UAE.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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