Abstract:
Background: Caesarian section (CS) delivers the pregnancy outcome by making an incision
through the maternal abdomen and uterus. Although there is a wide variation of CS in Sub Saharan
Africa, currently Ethiopia has a considerably lower CS delivery rate. The main objective of this
study is examine determinants of CS among women in Ethiopia's administrative zone.
Method: The recent 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS) dataset with
5,527 weighted samples of women was used. Data management was done using STATA version 17
software. To investigate the associated determinants of CS, we used Geoadditive model.
Results: From this study prevalence of CS in Ethiopia was 5.44%. Awi, East Gojjam, South Wollo,
North Shewa zones in Amhara region; all Addis Ababa zones; East Shewa in Oromia region
Kembata Tambaro and Sidama zones from SNNP region were hotspot area for CS. Women with
primary, secondary and higher educational level had higher odds of C- section with Posterior
Odds Ratio (POR=1.5278, 95%CI=1.1990-1.9484), (POR=2.1336, 95%CI=1.3971-3.2583) and
(POR=4.0382, 95%CI=2.2175-7.3537), respectively as compared to those in no education
category. Having ANC visits of 1-3, 4th and above, were associated with higher odds of CS as
(POR= 2.6783, (1.5001-4.8521)) and (POR=2.7042, (1.5479-4.9704)) respectively with 95%CI
compared to their reference no ANC visit.
Conclusion: The generalized geo-additive effects model enables simultaneous modeling of spatial
correlation, heterogeneity and possible nonlinear effects of covariates. Predictors of CS delivery
in Ethiopia include mother's educational level, child twin, religion, place of residence, ANC visit,
pregnancy counseling, place of delivery, total number of children born, birth order, mother's
current age, preceding birth interval, and mother's age at first birth. The study also revealed
signifcant spatial variations on CS delivery among administrative zones. It also depicts that the
presence of spatial structured effect had negative or positive effect for CS delivery in Ethiopia
zones. Priority interventions should focus on rural women, promoting women's education, and
encouraging pregnancy counseling to address this issue