[Non-clinical factors in decision making about cesarean section].
Increasing cesarean-section rates have focused attention on variation in the use of this procedure that appear to be not only dependent of medical indication. This suggestion has been checked on the basis of newly implemented special forms in hospitals located in some areas of Poland in 1990. Documentation of 11.813 live births (almost 100% of live births in described area) has been analysed. It has been found 13.2% cesarean-section rate and 2.0% rate of other operative deliveries. Majority of cesarean sections have been medically indicated. But it has been also found that highest level of mothers education has been directly linked with higher rates of cesarean section. This linkage has been stronger than any other association (with age, parity etc.). Poland as a country, is divided for several regions subordinated to particular hospitals. It has been found that some of the patients have been admitted not to regional hospitals. We conclude that cesarean section rate among these patients was higher than this same ratio among all other patients admitted for deliveries in these hospitals. This association cannot be accounted for by differences in maternal age, parity, birth weight etc.
Lech
M
M
Zakładu Epidemiologii Instytutu Matki i Dziecka w Warszawie.
Szamotulska
K
K
Mielniczuk
H
H
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004282:Documentation; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy