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Cesarean Section in the United States
- The most common major operation performed in the United States ia a Cesarean section.
- 16 US hospitals had Cesarean section rates of 45% or higher in 1994.
- 106 hospitals had Cesarean section rates of 37% or higher in 1994.
- About half of the Cesareans done in the US in 1991 were unnecessary. This cost Americans more than $1.3 billion.
- The women having Cesarean sections are the ones least likely to need them.
- The World Health Organization states that there is no justification for having a Cesarean rate higher than 10-15%.
- The risk of maternal death associated with Cesarean section is two to four times that associated with vaginal births.
- Midwife-attended birth is associated with low rates of Cesarean section.
- Obstetricians who work with midwives have lower rates of intervention.
- The World Health Organization states that countries with some of the lowest perinatal mortality rates in the world have cesarean rates under 10%.
- Evidence and peer education do not change standards of practice.
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