Audit of Caesarean Section Indications and Outcomes at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, North West Nigeria

Caesarean section rates are rising globally and in Nigeria, raising questions about appropriateness of indication and quality of maternal and neonatal outcomes in tertiary obstetric settings. This study audits the indications, complication rates, and outcomes of caesarean sections performed at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital over a three-year period from 2020 to 2022. A retrospective record review design is used, examining theatre logs, obstetric case notes, and discharge summaries of all patients who underwent caesarean section during the study period. Variables extracted include indication category (emergency versus elective), previous caesarean history, gestational age, maternal age, intraoperative complications, blood transfusion requirements, neonatal Apgar scores, and maternal length of stay. Descriptive and inferential statistics are applied using SPSS. Available Nigerian obstetric literature from teaching hospitals in the North West zone suggests caesarean section rates of 30 to 40 percent among facility deliveries, with foetal distress and obstructed labour as the most common indications. The Robson Ten-Group Classification System is applied to categorise cases and facilitate institutional comparison. Findings will inform obstetric audit processes and support evidence-based decision-making in the unit's caesarean section practice. Keywords: caesarean section, obstetric audit, maternal outcomes, Kano, North West Nigeria.