Rationale of the Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study on Factors Associated with Failure of Vaginal Delivery Trial after Cesarean Section in the University Clinics of Kinshasa, DR Congo

Background: Delivery in a scarred uterus is nowadays a real problem in Obstetrics practice, due to the inflation in the number of caesarean sections and the non-unanimous attitude of Obstetrics’ teams towards uterine scars. The factors associated with failed vaginal birth attempts after caesarean section (VBAC) are crucial information that would contribute effectively to deciding on the most appropriate mode of delivery for the mother and her fetus. Their identification would enable us to detect pregnant women at high risk of failure to attempt vaginal birth after caesarean section, and thus contribute to reducing the complications associated with this failure. Objective: We will study the factors associated with failure to vaginal delivery trial after caesarean section at the University Clinics of Kinshasa (UCK). Methods: This study will be a cross-sectional descriptive study with analytical aims. The minimum sample size will be 239. Our study population will consist of records of pregnant women with unicatricial uterus who underwent attempted vaginal delivery after caesarean section at UCK from January 2014 to June 2023. Results will be reported as percentage proportion and mean plus or minus standard deviation. Comparison of means between groups will be made using Student’s t-test, and of proportions using Pearson’s Chi-square test. Logistic regression will be used to generate Odds Ratios to measure the strength of association between variables. The test will be statistically significant for a p value < 0.05. Data will be collected and processed confidentially and anonymously. Conclusion: This study will identify the factors associated with the failure of attempted vaginal delivery after caesarean section in order to contribute to the reduction of complications related to its failure in our setting.