Are c-section targets “too low”?

It’s one topic that never fails to spark controversy – caesarean sections.

It seems every second week we hear reports of how Australia’s caesarean section rate is too high… but maybe our goal is too low.

That’s the suggestion of an article published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which suggests the World Health Organisation’s target caesarean level is too low. The World Health Organisation suggests a country’s caesarean rate should be between 10 and 15%.


Australia’s rate is 32%, and the article in question suggests 19% is the magic number.

Ellen Leabeater reports.

Speakers:

Maralyn Forureur- Professor of Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney
Professor Michael Permezel- President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZOG)

Image: Todd Anderson on Flickr.

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