Influence of maternal age and hospital characteristics on the mode of delivery

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the relationship between maternal age and the source of healthcare payment with mode of delivery in public and private national hospitals between the years 2012 to 2017, and the length of hospital stay. Methods: cross-sectional study of 91,894 women who had children in public and private hospitals between 2012 and 2017. Data were collected from the Diagnosis-Related Groups Brazil system and a comparative analysis was performed between patients in public care and those in supplementary healthcare. Results: in public care, the majority were vaginal deliveries and the reverse occurred in supplementary health. The proportion of cesarean sections was higher in the age group 31 to 40 years old in both services. The hospital stay was longer among women who underwent a cesarean section. Conclusions: high maternal age and the source of healthcare payment influence the mode of delivery, which interfere with the length of hospital stay.