A Secondary Analysis of the LILAC Study Regarding Cesarean Birth by Maternal Request in Women Living with HIV

Author(s): Margo S Harrison

Background: Latin America has the highest regional average cesarean birth rates. One potential driver is cesarean birth by maternal request (CBMR).

Methods: We analyzed of a large prospective cohort study of HIV-infected women in six Latin American countries.

Results: Comparisons were made between women who chose CBMR (n = 38) and women with a medical indication for cesarean (n = 683). The only variable associated with CBMR was onset of labor (AOR 0.3 [0.1,0.9], p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Spontaneous labor reduced the likelihood of a woman living with HIV to pursue CBMR in a large Latin American cohort.