title: Antenatal history and caesarean section in the southern part of kerala, India.
abstract: Caesarean births were originally used as an emergency birthing alternative for complicated births and labours that endangered either the life of the child or the mother. A rising trend in Caesarean rates has been reported from Kerala, the state with the best demographic characteristics and access to health care within India. In this context, this paper examines the extent of Caesarean section among women aged 15 to 49 years with only one child born in the five years preceding the survey in the southern part of Kerala with respect to their antenatal history. This study revealed that Caesarean section in the southern part of Kerala is much higher than for the state as a whole. Based on mothers' reply, 28/ of the first live births occurred by Caesarean section in the southern part of Kerala. The women who had a dreadful experience in antenatal history had higher odds of Caesarean section than other women.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Biostatistician, Center for Human Development, College of India.
authors.forename: G Anil
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kumar