Term breech singletons and caesarean section: a population study, Australia 1991-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the method of birth of term breech singletons in Australia.


METHODS
A retrospective population-based study of women who gave birth to term breech singletons in Australia between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2005 using data from the National Perinatal Data Collection.


METHODS
Caesarean section, vaginal breech birth.


RESULTS
Method of birth changed for term breech singletons from 1991 (vaginal breech birth 23.1% versus caesarean (no labour 55.6%, labour 21.2%)) to 2005 (vaginal breech birth 3.7% versus caesarean (no labour 76.6%, labour 19.7%)). Overall, the population attributable risk percentage of term breech singletons for all caesarean sections declined from 10.2% in 1991 to 6.9% in 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
Planned caesarean section is the standard method of birth for term breech singletons in Australia. Active measures including external cephalic version should be supported to reduce the rate of caesarean section where clinically indicated. Retention of a skilled clinical workforce is essential in the provision of the latter and to assist the minority of women having vaginal breech births. Breech presentation is not a major factor in the overall rise in caesarean section experienced by Australia since 1996.
Perinatal and Reproductive Epidemiology Research Unit, School Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Level 2 McNevin Dickson Building, Randwick Hospitals Campus, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. e.sullivan@unsw.edu.au
Elizabeth Anne
EA
Sullivan
Katinka
K
Moran
Michael
M
Chapman
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001946:Breech Presentation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D014710:Version, Fetal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*