Objective
The purpose of this study was to describe the unequal distribution in the performance
of cesarean section delivery (CS) in the world and the resource-use implications of
such inequity.
Study Design
We obtained data on the number of CSs performed in 137 countries in 2008. The consensus
is that countries should achieve a 10% rate of CS; therefore, for countries that are
below that rate, we calculated the cost to achieve a 10% rate. For countries with
a CS rate of >15%, we calculated the savings that could be made by the achievement
of a 15% rate.
Results
Fifty-four countries had CS rates of <10%, whereas 69 countries showed rates of >15%.
The cost of the global saving by a reduction of CS rates to 15% was estimated to be
$2.32 billion (US dollars); the cost to attain a 10% CS rate was $432 million (US
dollars).
Conclusion
CSs that are potentially medically unjustified appear to command a disproportionate
share of global economic resources.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: March 05, 2012
Accepted:
February 21,
2012
Received in revised form:
November 30,
2011
Received:
August 29,
2011
Footnotes
The authors report no conflict of interest.
Reprints are not available from the author.
Cite this article as: Gibbons L, Belizan JM, Lauer JA, et al. Inequities in the use of cesarean section deliveries in the world. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012;206:331.e1-19.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- April 2012 (vol. 206, no. 4, page 331)American Journal of Obstetrics & GynecologyVol. 210Issue 2
