On the African continent, maternal mortality after caesarean section remains very high: almost one woman in 200 dies as a result of this operation. That's 50 times more than in Western countries! To combat this problem, Louvain Coopération has produced the manual ‘Pratique de la césarienne en conditions de ressources limitées’ (‘Caesarean section practice in conditions of limited resources’). It's a very practical book, the result of collaboration between academics and experts in the field. Our aim is to distribute it as widely as possible.
A caesarean section is by far the most common procedure in developing countries. It is therefore widely accepted, but unfortunately this does not mean that it is carried out correctly. Even today, it is estimated that one in every 200 African mothers-to-be dies after giving birth by caesarean section.
This figure can be explained by a number of factors, including ‘a lack of knowledge about the indications for carrying out a caesarean section and the technique, as well as a certain acceptance by carers of the caesarean section death rate as inevitable’, explains Dr Christian de Clippele, surgeon and former health expert at Louvain Coopération. As part of his role, he created and published a handbook for healthcare practitioners, setting out a rigorous approach to this operation in conditions of limited resources. The aim: ‘to reduce complications and maternal and infant mortality.