Telangana had extra preventable C-sections amongst southern States

A examine discovered that preventable Caesarean sections or C-sections represent between 3.1% and eight.4% of all deliveries within the southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Among the many 21,499 ladies studied, the proportion of preventable C-sections was 6.2%, and the proportion of C-sections was 44.3%. The share of preventable C-sections amongst total C-section deliveries was 13.9%.

At 3.1%, Kerala had the bottom variety of preventable C-sections, whereas Telangana had the very best at 8.4%. Preventable C-sections had been 5.4% for Andhra Pradesh, 6.2% for Karnataka, and seven% for Tamil Nadu. Preventable C-section was outlined as a C-section supply that was not deliberate previous to the onset of labour, carried out at full time period, and carried out with none intrapartum problems similar to breech presentation, transverse lie, extended labour, and extreme bleeding. The classification was based mostly on gestational age, mode of supply, timing of the choice, and absence of intrapartum problems. Apart from excessive out-of-pocket bills, preventable C-sections end in “inefficient use of well being system sources, intraoperative threat, and post-operative problems that affect the mom’s and baby’s future well being and well-being”, notes the examine.

The examine included 21,499 ladies within the age group 15-49 years who had given beginning inside the final 5 years. Information from the Nationwide Household Well being Survey-5 was used on this examine. The examine was revealed on April 23, 2025 within the journal PLOS ONE.

At 96.5%, institutional deliveries are certainly excessive within the southern States and comparable with a few of the nations in Western Europe and North America. These States even have considerably larger proportion of C-section deliveries — 31.5% to 60.7% — presumably as a result of excessive proportion of institutional deliveries.

In Kerala, 73.26% of C-section deliveries had been deliberate previous to the onset of labour and had been the very best among the many 5 States studied. Whereas deciding on C-sections earlier than the onset of labour does point out entry to high-quality antenatal care, it may additionally mirror {that a} vital proportion of moms is perhaps choosing an elective C-section. In contrast with Kerala, round 45% of C-section deliveries in Karnataka had been determined after the onset of labour, the examine carried out by Inhabitants Council Consulting, New Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, and TISS, Mumbai discovered.

The commonest supply complication amongst C-section deliveries in Kerala (34.97%) was breech presentation, whereas extended labour and extreme bleeding had been the most typical problems in different States. Extreme bleeding was the most typical complication noticed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In response to the examine, the chance of post-partum haemorrhage is strongly related to the absence of antenatal care — full antenatal care protection (i.e., at the least 4 antenatal care visits) was lowest in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in contrast with the opposite three southern States.

The examine discovered that the proportion of C-section deliveries, in addition to preventable C-section deliveries, was larger in moms aged 25-34 years. “Moms with larger schooling — main education and above — have at the least a 30% larger probability of present process a preventable C-section in comparison with these with out schooling,” they write. “Increased prevalence was discovered amongst uninsured, richer, and unemployed ladies, and better preventable C-sections had been discovered to happen with elevated antenatal care visits and in personal well being care amenities.”

It additionally discovered that primi-mothers (first-time moms or moms who’re pregnant with their first baby) had larger odds of preventable C-section deliveries. Within the 5 States, 37% of all moms had been primi-mothers, and at the least 18% of primi-mothers had opted for C-section deliveries. “Given {that a} earlier C-section is a sign for C-section in future pregnancies, particular consideration is required to keep away from preventable C-section amongst primi-mothers,” the authors write. Ladies in nuclear households have a better chance of present process C-section deliveries.

One purpose for larger preventable C-sections may very well be as a result of moms are coupling sterilisation and C-section deliveries. Among the many 21,499 ladies studied, sterilisation charges ranged between 27.1 and 50.1% throughout the 5 States. As per the NFHS-4 information, sterilisation charges amongst ladies aged 15-49 years was 37% in India. Excessive C-section charges reported in NFHS-5 may very well be as a result of excessive

preventable C-section charges amongst primi-mothers and people combining C-section with sterilisation when it’s last-order births, they are saying.

The moms who delivered in personal healthcare amenities had been practically thrice extra more likely to go for preventable C-sections in contrast with moms who delivered in a public healthcare facility. As per the examine, personal amenities account for 29.6% of all institutional deliveries, and 48% of all deliveries within the personal sector had been C-section deliveries. In contrast with NFHS-4, C-section deliveries in personal hospitals elevated by 17% in NFHS-5.