Cesarean delivery and perinatal mortality rates in Japan, 2007-2011.
OBJECTIVE
Cesarean delivery (CD) rates are increasing dramatically in developed countries. In this study, we examined the relationship between CD rates and perinatal mortality (PM) rates in all 47 prefectures in Japan.


METHODS
The CD rates were derived from a national obstetrics facility survey conducted by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG), which included 94.1% of all childbirths in Japan during the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011. The PM rates were based on vital statistics during the same period.


RESULTS
During the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011, the CD rates compiled for the 47 prefectures in Japan increased significantly in each successive year, whereas PM rates decreased significantly in each successive year. However, no statistically significant correlation between CD and PM rates was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of evidence for a significant correlation between recently increasing CD rates and decreasing PM rates in Japan.
The Endowed Chair for Regeneration of Medicine in Kuwana District, Suzuka University of Medical Science , Suzuka , Japan .
Kaoru
K
Ishikawa
Tomoaki
T
Ikeda
Ryoichiro
R
Miyazaki
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D019049:Developed Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D054238:Perinatal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011247:Pregnancy
Cesarean section; correlation; fetal death; infant death; neonatal death