DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE BRAZILIAN OBSTETRIC ROUTE ACCORDING TO THE ROBSON CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

The prevalence of Cesarean sections in Brazil reaches 56.7%, a rate significantly higher than the 15% maximum recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). To effectively monitor and manage these rates, the WHO advocates for the use of the Robson Classification, a system that categorizes pregnant women into 10 distinct obstetric groups, allowing for standardized analysis. This article sought to analyze the prevalence of obstetric delivery methods in Brazil between 2014 and 2023 using the Robson Classification. This is a descriptive, longitudinal, epidemiological, and quantitative study based on secondary public domain data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). Group 5 of the Robson Classification was the main contributor to Cesarean sections, followed by Groups 2 and 1, while Group 3 showed the highest prevalence of vaginal births. It was also found that women with higher education levels had high rates of Cesarean sections and that 49% of pregnant women had fewer than six prenatal consultations. It is therefore concluded that the data highlight the urgent need for effective strategies to reduce unnecessary Cesarean sections in Brazil, including consistent public policies, valuing safe vaginal delivery, and greater adherence to clinical protocols.