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. 2021 Nov;10(11):4182-4188.
doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_585_21. Epub 2021 Nov 29.

Changing scenario of C-section delivery in India: Understanding the maternal health concern and its associated predictors

Nivedita Roy  1 , Piyush Kumar Mishra  2 , Vijay Kumar Mishra  3 , Vijay Kumar Chattu  4 , Souryakant Varandani  2 , Sonu Kumar Batham  5
Affiliations

Changing scenario of C-section delivery in India: Understanding the maternal health concern and its associated predictors

Nivedita Roy et al. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Caesarean section (C-section) delivery is a serious maternal health concern in the long run. Notedly, there is a lack of studies dealing with understanding the ways and reasons of C-section deliveries becoming a public health issue in today's time in India and the measures to reduce the unnecessary caesarean sections. We have conducted this study to study the changes in the state-wise prevalence of C-section deliveries in India and understand C-section delivery's socioeconomic and biomedical predictors.

Materials and methods: The study uses data from the fourth and fifth rounds of the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS). The per cent differences in the C-section deliveries from NFHS-4 to NFHS-5 across the states were measured through relative changes. The association between the C-section delivery and socioeconomic and biomedical factors were assessed using multiple logistic regression.

Results: This study revealed that the C-section deliveries are higher in the southern states than in the other parts of India. Literacy plays a vital role in C-section deliveries. The probabilities of C-section deliveries are more in 30-40 and 40 + years. The women belonging to the median wealth index category were more likely (OR-CI, 1.62 [1.55-1.66]) to undergo the C-section followed by the women from wealthy households (OR-CI, 1.46 [1.41-1.52]).

Conclusion: The Government's health policymakers should take the initiative to reduce the C-section section delivery by means of building maternal health literacy and awareness among women and the community so that its future implications can be minimised. It is crucial to formulate a mandate and implement it in the states where C-sections are too high through community health workers and primary care providers.

Keywords: C-section; maternal health; multiple logistic regression; out-of-pocket expenditure; private health facility; socio-economic status.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Factors affecting increasing rate of C-section deliveries
Figure 2
Figure 2
Spatial distribution of percentage of caesarean section delivery across Indian States, NFHS
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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