Key findings of the study:
- According to the analysis of NFHS-4 survey, the proportion of births delivered by cesarean delivery has increased especially fast during the last decade in India, reaching 17.2% in 2010 to 2016.
- Changes in lifestyles, commercial pressure, and cultural factors as some of the reasons for the rise.
- The 2% growth in C-sec rate is above the World Health Organization’s ‘ideal rate’. recommended for caesarean sections (which is between 10% and 15%).
- 40.9% of babies in private hospitals are born through C-sec as compared to 11.9% of those born in government hospitals.
- While China had 5.3 million cesarean births in 2008-2014, the cesarean rate is reportedly contracting. In coming years India will become home to the largest number of cesarean births.
