BMJ  2007;335:1003-1004 (17 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39372.587650.80 (published 30 October 2007)

Editorials

Maternal and neonatal effects of caesarean section

More accurate estimates of probabilities are needed to support informed childbirth choices

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

Rising rates of caesarean section have stimulated much research and debate in the international medical literature. The proportion of caesarean sections in Australia climbed from 19.4% of all births in 1994¹ to 29.1% by 2004.² Already high figures in the United States had risen further to 30.2% by 2005,³ similar to the 33% seen for Latin America in the same year.⁴ Despite its growing acceptance as an alternative to vaginal birth, caesarean section is not benign surgery. In this week's BMJ, Villar and colleagues add to the growing body of evidence that cautions against high rates of caesarean delivery. The study supports the notion that caesarean section is justified only when benefits outweigh harms.⁴

The prospective cohort study uses a rich dataset from Latin America, the earlier results of which have been published previously.⁵ The study clearly shows that high rates of caesarean section do not necessarily produce better . . . [Full text of this article]

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

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Related Article

Maternal and neonatal individual risks and benefits associated with caesarean delivery: multicentre prospective study

José Villar, Guillermo Carroli, Nelly Zavaleta, Allan Donner, Daniel Wojdyla, Anibal Faundes, Alejandro Velazco, Vicente Bataglia, Ana Langer, Alberto Narváez, Eliette Valladares, Archana Shah, Liana Campodónico, Mariana Romero, Sofia Reynoso, Karla Simônia de Pádua, Daniel Giordano, Marius Kublickas, Arnaldo Acosta World Health Organization 2005 Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health Research Group
BMJ 2007 335: 1025. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]