Maternal risk profiles and the primary cesarean rate in the United States, 1991-2002.
OBJECTIVE
We examined factors contributing to shifts in primary cesarean rates in the United States between 1991 and 2002.


METHODS
US national birth certificate data were used to assess changes in primary cesarean rates stratified according to maternal age, parity, and race/ethnicity. Trends in the occurrence of medical risk factors or complications of labor or delivery listed on birth certificates and the corresponding primary cesarean rates for such conditions were examined.


RESULTS
More than half (53%) of the recent increase in overall cesarean rates resulted from rising primary cesarean rates. There was a steady decrease in the primary cesarean rate from 1991 to 1996, followed by a rapid increase from 1996 to 2002. In 2002, more than one fourth of first-time mothers delivered their infants via cesarean. Changing primary cesarean rates were not related to general shifts in mothers' medical risk profiles. However, rates for virtually every condition listed on birth certificates shifted in the same pattern as with the overall rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that shifts in primary cesarean rates during the study period were not related to shifts in maternal risk profiles.
Declercq
Eugene
E
Maternal and Child Health Department, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. declercq@bu.edu
Menacker
Fay
F
Macdorman
Marian
M
D000328:Adult; D001719:Birth Certificates; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology