Association between rates of caesarean section and maternal and neonatal mortality in the 21st century: a worldwide population-based ecological study with longitudinal data.
OBJECTIVE
Caesarean section was initially performed to save the lives of the mother and/or her baby. Caesarean section rates have risen substantially worldwide over the past decades. In this study, we set out to compile all available caesarean section rates worldwide at the country level, and to identify the appropriate caesarean section rate at the population level associated with the minimal maternal and neonatal mortality.


METHODS
Ecological study using longitudinal data.


METHODS
Worldwide country-level data.


METHODS
A total of 159 countries were included in the analyses, representing 98.0% of global live births (2005).


METHODS
Nationally representative caesarean section rates from 2000 to 2012 were compiled. We assessed the relationship between caesarean section rates and mortality outcomes, adjusting for socio-economic development by means of human development index (HDI) using fractional polynomial regression models.


METHODS
Maternal mortality ratio and neonatal mortality rate.


RESULTS
Most countries have experienced increases in caesarean section rate during the study period. In the unadjusted analysis, there was a negative association between caesarean section rates and mortality outcomes for low caesarean section rates, especially among the least developed countries. After adjusting for HDI, this effect was much smaller and was only observed below a caesarean section rate of 5-10%. No important association between the caesarean section rate and maternal and neonatal mortality was observed when the caesarean section rate exceeded 10%.


CONCLUSIONS
Although caesarean section is an effective intervention to save maternal and infant lives, based on the available ecological evidence, caesarean section rates higher than around 10% at the population level are not associated with decreases in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, and thus may not be necessary to achieve the lowest maternal and neonatal mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
The caesarean section rate of around 10% may be the optimal rate to achieve the lowest mortality.
Ministry of Education - Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.|Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Special Programme of Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
J
J
Ye
Ministry of Education - Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
J
J
Zhang
ESME - Epidemiological and Statistical Methods Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.|Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
R
R
Mikolajczyk
Brazilian Cochrane Center, São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil.|Department of Obstetrics, São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil.
M R
MR
Torloni
Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Special Programme of Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
A M
AM
Gülmezoglu
Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Special Programme of Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
A P
AP
Betran
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011247:Pregnancy
Caesarean section rate; maternal mortality; neonatal mortality