Within Country Inequalities in Cesarean Section Rates: Observational Study of 72 Low and Middle Income Countries

(BMJ. 2018;360:k55) It remains unclear what the ideal cesarean section rate should be. Very low rates may be indicative of a lack of access when needed, leading to high rates of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. In contrast, high cesarean section rates suggest a bias for cesarean delivery without medical indication, increasing the risk of surgical complications, hemorrhage, and infection, Studies have shown that inequalities in cesarean section rates exist both between countries and within countries. The highest rates of cesarean delivery are generally observed among the wealthiest regions, and low rates are prevalent among the most disadvantaged areas. These inequalities have been shown to remain even as a country’s overall cesarean section rate has risen. The purpose of this observational study was to provide an update about economic inequalities in cesarean section rates within a large number of countries from various regions as well as the change in inequality over time.
Source: Obstetric Anesthesia Digest - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Epidemiologic Reports Surveys Source Type: research