Rates and implications of caesarean sections in Latin America: ecological study   Commentary: all women should have a choice   Commentary: increase in caesarean sections may reflect medical control not women's choice   Commentary: "health has become secondary to a sexually attractive body"

BELIZAN, J. M; ALTHABE, F.; BARROS, F. C; ALEXANDER, S.

BMJ

BMJ

Año: 1999 vol. 319 p. 1397 - 1402

0959-8138

Objectives: To estimate the incidences of caesarean sections in Latin American countries and correlate these with socioeconomic, demographic, and healthcare variables.Design: Descriptive and ecological study.Setting: 19 Latin American countries.Main outcome measures: National estimates of caesarean section rates in each country.Results: Seven countries had caesarean section rates below 15%. The remaining 12 countries had rates above 15% (range 16.8% to 40.0%). These 12 countries account for 81% of the deliveries in the region. A positive and significant correlation was observed between the gross national product per capita and rate of caesarean section (rs=0.746), and higher rates were observed in private hospitals than in public ones. Taking 15% as a medically justified accepted rate, over 850 000 unnecessary caesarean sections are performed each year in the region.Conclusions: The reported figures represent an unnecessary increased risk for young women and their babies. From the economic perspective, this is a burden to health systems that work with limited budgets.