[Does the increasing cesarean section rate reflect a shift in indications or a decline in quality?].
The cesarean section rate is continuously increasing at our department, from 13.8 to 17.2% between 1999 and 2000. The mother's wishes regarding the mode of delivery weigh increasingly on our obstetric decisions. Patient acceptance of elective cesarean section is high, and the increasing cesarean section rate is influenced by paramedical factors. Obstetrics appears to be developing into a mostly surgical discipline. The effect this has on quality (and costs) remains to be seen.
Winter
R
R
Hepp
H
H
Haller
U
U
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000639:trends; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data