Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
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The use of caesarean section (C. S.) has been analysed in the 12 hospitals of the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe during a 2-year period. Maternal mortality rate, perinatal mortality rate, low birthweight rate, percentage of high risk pregnancy, C. ⋯ S. differentiated the 12 hospitals into two groups. Although there was no difference in the number of high risk patients in these two groups, outcomes were much better in the hospitals with a high ID rate than in the hospitals with a high C. S. rate, suggesting that attitudes of medical staff can influence both the mode of delivery and the perinatal outcome in a developing country.