Factors associated with normal and cesarean delivery in public and private maternity hospitals: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objectives: to investigate the factors associated with the mode of delivery in pregnant women in the city of Belo Horizonte. Methods: cross-sectional study developed with data from the study “Being born in Belo Horizonte: survey on childbirth and birth” carried out in seven maternity hospitals in Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais. The final sample consisted of 1088 pregnant/postpartum women. In this study, to verify the magnitude of the association between the outcome variable and its possible determinants (exposure variables) logistic regression models were constructed to estimate the Odds Ratio. Results: increasing age, the lack of companionship, the hospital’s private financing for performing delivery and being a first-time pregnant woman increased the chance of delivery by cesarean section. Final Considerations: the knowledge of factors associated with the prevalence of cesarean sections can support reflections among health professionals about this surgical procedure in certain situations, especially when there are no precise clinical indications.