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Births by Caesarean section (percentage)

Rationale for use

The percentage of births by caesarean section is an indicator of access to and use of health care during childbirth.

Definition

Percentage of births by caesarean section among all live births in a given time period.

Associated terms

Live birth

• (See neonatal mortality rate)

Data sources

Household surveys: birth history—detailed questions on the last-born child or all children a woman has given birth to during a given period preceding the survey (usually 3 to 5 years), including characteristics of the birth(s). The number of live births to women surveyed provides the denominator.

Routine health-service statistics: the number of women having given birth by caesarean section (numerator). Census projections or, in some cases, vital registration data can be used to provide the denominator (numbers of live births).

Methods of estimation

Empirical data from household surveys are used.

Disaggregation

By location (urban/rural, major regions/provinces) and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics (e.g. women’s level of education, wealth quintile, age).

References

• Guidelines for monitoring the availability and use of obstetric services
  UNICEF/WHO/UNFPA. Guidelines for monitoring the availability and use of obstetric services., New York, United Nations Children’s Fund, 1997.
• Reproductive health indicators—guidelines for their generation, interpretation and analysis for global monitoring
  WHO, Department of Reproductive Health and Research. Reproductive health indicators—guidelines for their generation, interpretation and analysis for global monitoring. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2006.
• The world health report 2005—make every mother and child count
  WHO. Annex Table 8. In: The world health report 2005—make every mother and child count. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2005.

Database

• Demographic and Health Surveys

Comments

This indicator does not provide information on the reason for undergoing caesarean section, and includes caesarean sections that were performed without a clinical indication as well as those that were medically indicated. The extent to which caesarean sections are performed according to clinical need, therefore, is not possible to determine. However, an approximate figure of less than 5% indicates that all women who are in need may not be receiving caesarean section at birth.