Maharashtra’s Alarming C-Section Rate: A Cause For Concern
Maharashtra's Alarming C-Section Rate: A Cause For Concern
Maharashtra’s c-section delivery rate has reached an alarming 30%, with some districts reporting as high as 40%. This is significantly higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommended rate of 15%. The high rate of c-sections has raised concerns among health experts, who warn of potential risks to both mothers and babies. According to data from the state family welfare department, between 2022 and 2023, 5.3 lakh children were born through c-section out of a total 17.5 lakh deliveries. This means that nearly 3 in 10 children born in the state were delivered through c-section.
Health experts attribute the high rate of c-sections to a range of factors, including late conception, inactive lifestyles, and an unwillingness among women to undergo labor pain. However, some public health experts argue that commercial interests of private hospitals are also driving up the rate of c-sections.
“Let’s first stop blaming people and lifestyles. If affluent lifestyles and health conditions are to be blamed for rising c-sections, then why is the percentage of such deliveries in developed European countries like Germany and UK lower than the rate in India’s private hospitals?” asked Dr Abhay Shukla, national co-convener of Jan Swastha Abhiyan.
Dr Shukla responded to the media that the high rate of c-sections is largely driven by the commercial interests of privaeraged pitals. “Even today, the average marriage age in Maharashtra is not more than 20 years, which means most women are indeed healthy. So it’s just doctors at private hospitals who are driving up c-sections in India. It’s ‘provider-induced demand’, which means many doctors push women and families towards c-sections.”
The high rate of c-sections has also raised concerns about the potential risks to both mothers and babies. Research has shown that babies born through c-section tend to have weaker immunity than children born through natural delivery. Additionally, epidemiologic studies have found that children delivered via c-section are more likely to develop respiratory and certain neurological disorders, including asthma and autism.
The state government has taken note of the high rate of c-sections and has asked civil surgeons to ensure that every c-section delivery is audited, in both government and private hospitals. However, health experts argue that more needs to be done to regulate the practice of c-sections and to promote natural delivery.
“In my view, the private medical lobby does not want it. Regulation is key. Each c-section delivery’s reason must be documented and later audited. Once this happens, I’m sure we’ll see a drastic drop in such procedures,” said Dr Shukla while talking to the media.
