Hi All,
The full article was 8 pages long so I've just copied the abstract - but its
worth reading ... although it only confirms what we already know...! You
will find it at: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/530788_print
Factors Associated With the Rise in Primary Cesarean Births in the United
States, 1991-2002
Eugene Declercq, PhD; Fay Menacker, DrPH; Marian MacDorman, PhD
Am J Public Health. 2006;96(5):867-872. ©2006 American Public Health
Association
Posted 05/08/2006
Abstract
Objectives: We examined factors contributing to shifts in primary cesarean
rates in the United States between 1991 and 2002.
Methods: US national birth certificate data were used to assess changes in
primary cesarean rates stratified according to maternal age, parity, and
race/ethnicity. Trends in the occurrence of medical risk factors or
complications of labor or delivery listed on birth certificates and the
corresponding primary cesarean rates for such conditions were examined.
Results: More than half (53%) of the recent increase in overall cesarean
rates resulted from rising primary cesarean rates. There was a steady
decrease in the primary cesarean rate from 1991 to 1996, followed by a rapid
increase from 1996 to 2002. In 2002, more than one fourth of first-time
mothers delivered their infants via cesarean. Changing primary cesarean
rates were not related to general shifts in mothersÂ’ medical risk profiles.
However, rates for virtually every condition listed on birth certificates
shifted in the same pattern as with the overall rates.
Conclusions: Our results showed that shifts in primary cesarean rates during
the study period were not related to shifts in maternal risk profiles.
Leanne Wynne
Midwife in charge of "Women's Business"
Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862
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