wealth-gap-influences-births-via-c-section-in-india

More than 20 per cent of births in India are carried out through caesarean section, with a greater number occurring in private healthcare facilities compared to public ones, as stated in a study published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia journal.

 

A caesarean section involves surgically opening a pregnant woman’s abdomen and uterus.

 

Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health in New Delhi, along with others, examined live birth data of over 720,000 women aged 15-49 years from 28 states and eight union territories, gathered during the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (2019-2021).

 

"The rate of caesarean deliveries in India, standing at 21.5 per cent, indicates sufficient national availability but may conceal significant inequalities," the authors remarked.

 

Delivery rates via caesarean sections varied greatly across different states, "ranging from 5.2 per cent in Nagaland to 60.7 per cent in Telangana."

 

The study found that caesarean deliveries were more frequent in private healthcare facilities compared to public ones across all socio-economic classes.

 

Nonetheless, there were also wealth-related disparities within private facilities, with fewer C-sections among the least affluent and a higher number among the wealthier groups.

 

"The research concluded that both high-income and low-income individuals in India tend to opt for caesarean deliveries in private rather than public facilities," the authors observed.

 

The study indicated that caesarean delivery rates were at least double among the wealthiest groups compared to the poorest in almost 70 per cent of states.

 

Arunachal Pradesh exhibited a relatively low rate of C-section deliveries at 14.5 per cent, along with minimal inequality, whereas southern states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana showed high C-section rates yet lower inequality.

 

These differences may be linked to improved healthcare access, elevated literacy rates, and a more robust Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the authors noted.

 

Cultural and social influences might also contribute to the increased incidence of caesarean deliveries, including concerns about normal childbirth, the wish to deliver on a favourable day, and preferences for painless births or smaller family sizes.

 

In Bihar, where a significant portion of the population belongs to lower wealth categories, there is a higher inclination towards vaginal deliveries due to their lower cost.