title: Recent trends and patterns in cesarean and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) deliveries in the United States.
abstract: Cesarean delivery is the most common major surgical procedure for women in the United States, with 1.4 million surgeries annually. In 2008, nearly one-third (32.3%) of US births were by cesarean delivery. Cesarean delivery rates have increased rapidly in the United States in recent years because of an increasing primary cesarean delivery rate and a declining vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rate. In 2007, the VBAC rate was 8.3% in a 22-state reporting area. The US VBAC rate was lowest among 14 industrialized countries; 3 countries had VBAC rates greater than 50%.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vital Statistics, Reproductive Statistics Branch, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA. mfm1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacDorman
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Declercq
authors.forename: Fay
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menacker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States; D016064:Vaginal Birth after Cesarean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult