OBJECTIVES: to analyse the incidence and the indications of cesarean section performed in the University Hospital of the "Triângulo Mineiro Faculty of Medicine " and a private hospital in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: a cross sectional study was carried out by using the data source of the medical files from both hospitals consisting of patient age, place of origin, marital status, education level, parity and cesarean sections indications. RESULTS: the cesarean sections rate was 24,3 % (325 of 1.441 births) at the university hospital against 89,2% (100 of 112 births) of the private hospital. The most frequent indications in the University Hospital were previous cesarean sections (26,7%), dystocia (22,4%) and acute fetal distress (18,2%). In the private hospital, indications were previous cesarean section (36%) and dystocia (36%). The private hospital's patients had higher education levels. CONCLUSIONS: the higher rate of cesarean sections observed in the private hospital resulted from previous cesarean section, dystocia and higher education levels.
Cesarean section; Socioeconomic factors; Women's health
