Despite caesarian section becoming the preference of many women across the globe, the procedure comes with its pitfalls.
In some African countries, C-section deliveries are associated with very high maternal and newborn deaths and illnesses partly because of delays in performing the procedure, and inadequate facilities and skills. Such lapses could lead to anaesthetic and urological complications and excessive bleeding. There is also the possibility of contracting sepsis (infection) and organ injury.
They can also cause respiratory problems in newborns and lead to asthma and obesity in future.
The consequences for future pregnancies include an increase in spontaneous preterm birth, uterine rupture, abnormal placentation that may result in excessive bleeding and/ or need for hysterectomy.
In the US, higher C-section rates have been marginally associated with greater mortality.
While there is an overall rise in the application of the procedure, there are also wide discrepancies in C-section use across countries and regions. Of the 6.2 million unnecessary caesarean section deliveries each year worldwide, half are in Brazil and China.
In parts of Latin America like Brazil, the rate stands at 60 percent, 12 times the prevalence in Southern Africa, where the use of surgery is about five percent.
The series concludes that the wide variations reported between regions and within countries, and between women, show that caesarean use is not evidence-based.
But the series also recommends that efforts to reduce C-section must strongly respect women’s right to choose circumstances of birth.