BMJ  2007;334:1281-1282 (23 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39247.535532.80

Editorials

Decision aids for women with a previous caesarean section

Focusing on women's preferences improves decision making

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Rates of caesarean section are a cause of concern worldwide, although the problems vary according to the setting. In many poor countries, mostly in Africa, where average rates are 2%, caesarean section is underused because of lack of facilities and trained personnel.¹ In other developing countries such as ones in Latin America and eastern Asia, incidence is 30% of all births or higher, even though large sections of the population lack access to basic obstetric care, while in developed countries it has steadily risen to about 20–25%.¹ Despite such big differences between countries, the modifiable causes of rising caesarean section rates and what to do about them are unclear.

In this week's BMJ, a randomised controlled trial by Montgomery and colleagues looks at the effect of two computer based decision aids compared with usual care in pregnant women who have had a previous caesarean section.² One aid provided structured . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Health Systems Financing, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, ² Making Pregnancy Safer, World Health Organization

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