Vaginal birth after cesarean section in rural Tanzania

Eighty-seven of 134 women with a history of previous cesarean section in two rural hospitals in Tanzania had a vaginal delivery after a trial of labor. The incidence of scar-rupture was high: in 9 of 134 cases (6.7%). Maternal death, however, did not occur. It is concluded that a trial of labor is justified, and that the risk of scar-rupture should be balanced with the risk of repeat operations.