Effect of Iran's normal delivery promotion plan on the cesarean delivery rates: An interrupted time series study

Background & Aim: Cesarean section (CS) rate was 56% in 2012 in Iran, which was considerably higher than the WHO recommended rate (10-15%). Thus, the Normal Delivery Promotion (NDP) program as a part of Iran’s Health Transformation Plan (HTP) was implemented in 2014 to reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries and promote maternal and neonatal health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the NDP plan on the CS rates. Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental and longitudinal study analyzed the immediate and long- term effects of the NDP program on the CS trend in Iran using an interrupted time series analysis. Monthly CS rates in the hospitals of the country were extracted from April 2013 to September 2018. Results: Overall CS rate in Iran decreased by 6% immediately after the implementation of the NDP program and then remained at the same level. The NDP program reduced the CS rate in teaching (9.5%), non-teaching (11.7%), private (18.1%), and charity (27.1%) hospitals. But the CS rate increased in social security (7%) and other hospitals (15.7%). The CS rate would have reached 58.5% by September 2018 if the NDP program had not been implemented. Conclusion: The NDP program was somewhat effective in reducing the CS rate in Iran. Promoting this program by formulating a strategic plan and comprehensive action plans addressing various underlying causes of CS at meta (ministry of health), macro (universities of medical sciences), meso (hospitals) and micro (obstetricians, midwives, and mothers) levels and considering effective solutions in the areas of governance and leadership, financing, human resources, equipment, information and service delivery is critical to achieve the determined national goals.