Among all countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Turkey, followed by Korea, had the highest rate of Caesarean section births (or C-sections) in 2020. At that time, the rate of C-sections in Turkey was 584 per 1,000 live births. Among global regions, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest percentage of births that were delivered by C-section, while West and Central Africa had the lowest rates of Cesarean section births.

Cesarean section costs

Cesarean sections are a form of birth where the baby is taken out through a surgical incision in the abdomen rather than a natural vaginal birth. The cost of a Cesarean section delivery varies globally. The United States has some of the highest costs globally for Cesarean section deliveries, while South Africa has some of the lowest costs. In the United States, C-sections are significantly more expensive than a delivery by vaginal birth.

High C-sections rates in the U.S.

While not the highest, the U.S. has a high C-section rate among OECD countries and very few of the hospitals are meeting national targets for the number of Cesarean sections performed. Over the past 20 years the C-section rate in the U.S. has gradually been increasing with more stable trends in the past few years. It has been reported that many of the C-sections performed in the U.S. are elective and not necessary. Often the risks of C-sections are greater than the benefits, when performed as an elective procedure.

This statistic depicts the percentage of births that were delivered via cesarean section worldwide in 2000 and 2015, by region. According to the data, Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest rate of cesarean sections in 2015 with 44.3 percent of births being delivered by c-section.

Cesarean rates worldwide continue to increase and are projected to reach 28.5 percent by 2030 from 21.1 percent in 2018. In 2018, the highest rate of c-section was in the Latin America and the Caribbean region at nearly 43 percent. Yet the largest growth is projected for the region of Eastern Asia, where more than half of all childbirth occurs by c-section. As of 2021, this is already the case in four OECD countries.

In 2019, the cost of a C-section delivery in a hospital in the United States was 11,326 U.S. dollars. In comparison, a C-section in a hospital in Germany cost 3,704 U.S. dollars. This statistic displays the median prices for a C-section delivery in hospitals in select countries worldwide in 2019.

Among all U.S. states, Nebraska had the highest hospital-based Cesarean section delivery rate as of 2017, with 34 percent of births being delivered via Cesarean section. Cesarean section rates were calculated for first-time, low-risk mothers. Nebraska’s Cesarean section rate is significantly higher than the U.S. target. According to recent data, over half of U.S. hospitals have C-section delivery rates higher than the national U.S. targets.

Risks of Cesarean section

A Cesarean section (or C-section) is a surgical procedure for delivering babies in which a baby is delivered by being removed through the abdomen as opposed to being delivered vaginally. Most deaths due to childbirth in the U.S. are preventable. However, women that deliver via C-section are more prone to specific health risks including, infection, excessive bleeding, and damage to the bladder, kidneys and other internal organs. While cost may not directly affect health, the risk of financial troubles based on medical expenditures is also an issue with C-section deliveries. The U.S. has some of the highest costs globally for C-section deliveries.

High U.S. Cesarean section rates

Among all OECD countries the United States raked among the top five for highest rates of cesarean section deliveries. The number of C-sections performed in the U.S. has dramatically increased since 1997. Among mothers in the U.S., older women have higher rates of C-section delivery.

Caesarean section rates in 150 countries categorised according to United Nations geographical grouping in 2014a.

In 2022, around 59 percent of all delivering mothers in the United States were overweight or obese. This statistic shows the rate of selected medical or health characteristics experienced by mothers during pregnancy/births in the United States in 2022.

This statistic displays the share of childbirths that were delivered by caesarean section in Europe in 2015, by country. In this year, almost 57 percent of births in Cyprus were delivered by caesarean section, the highest rate in Europe.

Mississippi leads the nation in cesarean section rates, with 38.5 percent of all live births delivered via C-section in 2022. This figure significantly surpasses the national average of 32.1 percent. The high prevalence of C-sections raises important questions about maternal health care and medical decision-making in different states. Age and ethnicity influence C-section rates Demographic factors play a crucial role in the likelihood of cesarean deliveries. Maternal age significantly impacts C-section rates, with mothers aged 40 to 54 experiencing a 47.7 percent rate compared to just 18.9 percent for those under 20. Additionally, ethnic disparities persist, with non-Hispanic Black women consistently having higher C-section rates than other groups. The gap between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women has widened from 2 percent in 2007 to over 5 percent in 2022. Financial implications of C-sections The cost of cesarean deliveries varies widely depending on insurance status and location. In 2023, the national median cost for an insured, in-network C-section was 16,943 U.S. dollars. However, for uninsured patients or those using out-of-network services, the median charge more than doubled to 37,653 U.S. dollars. New Jersey topped the charts for both insured and uninsured C-section costs, with median values of 26,900 U.S. dollars and 52,500 U.S. dollars respectively.

UNICEF's country profile for France, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

The data shows the statistics of different medical services on a cumulative yearly basis in other states up to the sub-district level of 2011-2012. It included 1) Ante Natal Care (ANC) - Antenatal care (ANC) is a means to identify high-risk pregnancies and educate women so that they might experience healthier delivery and outcomes. 2) Deliveries - The delivery of the baby by the pregnant women 3) Number of Caesarean (C-Section) deliveries - Caesarean delivery (C-section) is used to deliver a baby through surgical incisions made in the abdomen and uterus. 4) Pregnancy outcome & details of new-born - The records kept of the pregnancy outcome along with the details of new-born 5) Complicated Pregnancies - The different pregnancies that were not normal and had complications 6) Post Natal Care (PNC) - Postnatal care is defined as care given to the mother and her new-born baby immediately after the birth of the placenta and for the first six weeks of life 7) Reproductive Tract Infections/Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTI/STI) Cases - The records of reproductive tract infections along with the records of the sexually transmitted cases 8) Family Planning - The different methods used by families to keep track of family 9) CHILD IMMUNISATION - The records of child immunisation which are records of vaccination 10) Number of cases of Childhood Diseases (0-5 years) - The records of the number of cases of childhood diseases within the age of 5 years old 11) NVBDCP - The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is one of the most comprehensive and multi-faceted public health activities in the country and concerned with the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases, namely Malaria, Filariasis, Kala-azar, Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis (JE). 12) Adolescent Health - The record of the conditions of adolescent health 13 ) Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) - Directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS, also known as TB-DOTS) is the name given to tuberculosis (TB) control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization 14) Patient Services - Patient Services means those which vary with the number of personnel; professional and para-professional skills of the personnel; specialised equipment, and reflect the intensity of the medical and psycho-social needs of the patients. 15) Laboratory Testing - A medical procedure that involves testing a sample of blood, urine, or other substance from the body. Laboratory tests can help determine a diagnosis, plan treatment, check if the treatment works, or monitor the disease over time. 16) Details of deaths reported with probable causes - The reports of deaths recorded with possible reasons are given in a detail 17) Vaccines - The reports of vaccines which are recorded 18) Syringes - It is the number of syringes that are used and recorded 19) Rashtriya Bal Swasthaya Karyakram (RBSK) - Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is an important initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 'D's viz. Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays, including disability. 20) Coverage under WIFS JUNIOR - The coverage of the Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation Programme for children six to one 21) Maternal Death Reviews (MDR) - A maternal death review is cross-checking how the mother died. It provides a rare opportunity for a group of health staff and community members to learn from a tragic – and often preventable. 22) Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK)- This initiative provides free and cashless services to pregnant women, including normal deliveries and caesarean operations. It entitles all pregnant women in public health institutions to free and no-expense delivery, including caesarean section.

This statistic depicts the percentage of mothers worldwide who said they had planned their cesarean section birth as of 2017. According to the data, 39.5 percentage of respondents said their cesarean section was unplanned at that time.

Under-five children mortality rates in Africa using recent standard DHS, from 2014–2022.

This statistic depicts large U.S. hospitals with the lowest Cesarean section (C-section) rates among first-time, low-risk mothers in the U.S. as of 2017. According to the data, Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, had a C-section rate for first time, low-risk deliveries of around seven percent.

The total average hospital bill for U.S. births varies depending on the kind of birth. In 2013, the average cost of an uncomplicated vaginal birth was around 32 thousand U.S. dollars. For a standard Cesarean section birth the cost was near 51 thousand U.S. dollars at that time. Cesarean sections are performed via the surgical removal of an infant from the mother.

Birth costs

The United States has one of the highest birthing costs in the world. The average hospital and physician costs for a normal vaginal delivery in the United States may cost twice as much as a normal vaginal birth in Australia. Cesarean sections costs are more expensive than vaginal births, but the cost difference is similar. The United States, followed by Switzerland, had the highest costs among select countries for C-section deliveries.

Birth rates and mother's age

The birth rate in the United States has decreased dramatically in recent history. Some evidence suggests that birth rates may be impacted by family income. According to recent data, lower incomes have higher birth rates in the United States. Birth rates were highest among women aged 20 to 34 years. However, there is an increasing tendency of mothers being older at the time of their first birth.

Abstract

The survey was conducted by the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guyana. ICF Macro of Calverton, Maryland, provided technical assistance to the project through its contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Funding to cover technical assistance by ICF Macro and local costs was provided in its entirety by the USAID Mission in Georgetown, Guyana.

The primary objective of the 2009 GDHS was to collect information on characteristics of the households and their members, including exposure to malaria and tuberculosis; infant and child mortality; fertility and family planning; pregnancy and postnatal care; childhood immunization, health, and nutrition; marriage and sexual activity; and HIV/AIDS indicators.

Other objectives of the 2009 GDHS included (1) supporting the dissemination and utilization of the results in planning, managing, and improving family planning and health services in the country and (2) enhancing the survey capabilities of the institutions involved to facilitate surveys of this type in the future.

The 2009 GDHS sampled 5,632 households and completed interviews with 4,996 women age 15-49 and 3,522 men age 15-49. Three questionnaires were used for the 2009 GDHS: the Household Questionnaire, the Women's Questionnaire, and the Men's Questionnaire. The content of these questionnaires was based on the model questionnaires developed by the MEASURE DHS program of ICF Macro.

The primary objective of the 2009 GDHS was to collect information on the following topics: - Characteristics of households and household members - Fertility and reproductive preferences, infant and child mortality, and family planning - Health-related matters, such as breastfeeding, antenatal care, children's immunizations, and childhood diseases - Marriage, sexual activity, and awareness and behavior regarding HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - The nutritional status of mothers and children, including anthropometry measurements and anemia testing Other complementary objectives of the 2009 GDHS were: - To support dissemination and utilization of the results in planning, managing, and improving family planning and health services in the country - To enhance the survey capabilities of the institutions involved to facilitate their use of surveys of this type in the future

MAIN RESULTS

FERTILITY

Fertility Levels and Differentials If fertility were to remain constant in Guyana, women would bear, on average, 2.8 children by the end of their reproductive lifespan. The total fertility rate (TFR) is close to replacement level in urban areas (2.1 children per woman), and higher in the rural areas (3.0 children per woman). The TFR in the Interior area (6.0 children) is more than twice as high as the TFR in the Coastal area (2.4 children per woman) and is three times the fertility in the Georgetown (urban) area (2.0 children). The TFRs for women in the Interior area are significantly higher for all age groups.

Fertility Preferences Fifty-six percent of currently married women reported that they don't want to have a/another child, and five percent are already sterilized. The figures for men are 51 and 1 percent, respectively. The desire to stop childbearing increases rapidly as the number of children increases. Among respondents with one child, around one in five wants no more children. Among those with three children, about eight in ten women and seven in ten men want no more children.

FAMILY PLANNING

Use of Contraception Forty-three percent of women who are currently married or in union are currently using a contraceptive method, mainly a modern method (40 percent). The methods most commonly used by currently married women are the male condom (13 percent), the pill (9 percent), and the IUD (7 percent). Female sterilization and injectables are each used by 5 percent of women. The 2009 GDHS prevalence rate of 43 percent represents an increase of 8 percentage points since the 2005 GAIS (35 percent). Most of the increase was in condom use, injectables, and female sterilization.

Unmet Need for Family Planning Twenty-nine percent of currently married women have an unmet need for family planning, mostly for limiting births (19 percent) compared with spacing (10 percent). Because 43 percent of married women are currently using a contraceptive method (met need), the total demand for family planning is estimated at 71 percent of married women (22 percent for spacing, 49 percent for limiting). As a result, only 60 percent of the total demand for family planning is met.

MATERNAL HEALTH

Antenatal Care Among women who had a birth in the five years preceding the survey, 92 percent received antenatal care (ANC) from a skilled health provider for their most recent birth (51 percent from a nurse/midwife and 35 percent from a doctor). Older mothers (35-49 years) are less likely to receive antenatal care by a skilled health provider than younger mothers. Eighty-six percent of women with no education received ANC from a skilled health provider compared with 95 percent of women with more than secondary education.

Delivery Care Overall, 92 percent of births in the five years preceding the survey were assisted by a skilled birth provider, mainly by a nurse or midwife (56 percent), followed by a doctor (31 percent). Births to mothers under age 35 and lower order births are more likely to have assistance at delivery by a skilled provider than births to older mothers and higher order births. By residence, births in Urban areas are more likely than those in Rural areas, and births in the Coastal area are more likely than births in the Interior area, to be assisted by a skilled health provider. The percentage of births assisted by a skilled provider ranges from a low of 57 percent in Region 9 to a high of 98 percent in Region 4. Births to mothers who have more education and births in the higher wealth quintiles are more likely to be assisted by a skilled provider than other births. Almost all births to mothers with more than secondary education (98 percent) are assisted by a skilled provider compared with 71 percent of births to mothers with no education.

Caesarean section One in eight births (13 percent) in the five years preceding the survey was delivered by caesarean section. The prevalence of C-section delivery increases steadily with mother's age and decreases with birth order. Regions 1, 6, 7, and 9 have the lowest levels of deliveries by C-section (2-5 percent) and Region 3 has the highest level (23 percent). The percentage of births delivered by C-section increases with a mother's education and generally increases with her wealth.

CHILD HEALTH

Infant and Child Mortality Childhood mortality rates in Guyana are relatively low. For every 1,000 live births, 38 children die during the first year of life (infant mortality), and 40 children die during the first five years (under-age 5 mortality). Almost two-thirds of deaths in the first five years (25 deaths per 1,000 live births) take place during the neonatal period (the first month of life). The mortality rate after the first year of life up to age 5 (child mortality) is also very low at 3 deaths per 1,000 live births. The 2009 GDHS mortality data do not show any clear trends over time. However, mortality data have to be interpreted with caution because sampling errors associated with mortality estimates are large.

Vaccination Coverage Overall, 63 percent of Guyanese children age 18-29 months are fully immunized, and only 5 percent of the children received no vaccinations at all. Looking at coverage for specific vaccines, 94 percent of children received the BCG vaccination, 92 percent received the first dose of pentavalent vaccine, and 78 percent received the first polio dose (Polio 1). Coverage for the pentavalent and polio vaccinations declines with subsequent doses; 85 percent of children received the recommended three doses of pentavalent vaccine, and 70 percent received three doses of polio. These figures reflect dropout rates of 8 percent for the pentavalent vaccine and 11 percent for polio; the dropout rate represents the proportion of children who received the first dose of a vaccine but who did not get the third dose. Eighty-two percent of children are vaccinated against measles, and 79 percent of children have been vaccinated against yellow fever.

Illnesses and Treatment

Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) Five percent of children under age 5 had symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in the two weeks preceding the survey. Among children with symptoms of ARI, advice or treatment was sought from a health facility or provider for 65 percent, and antibiotics were prescribed as treatment for 18 percent (data not shown).

Fever Fever was found to be moderately frequent in children under age 5 in Guyana (20 percent), ranging from 17 percent in children under 6 months to about 26 percent in children 12-17 months.. Most of the children under age 5 with fever (59 percent) were taken to a health facility or a health provider for their most recent episode of fever. Overall, about one in five children with fever (21 percent) received antibiotics, and 6 percent received antimalarial drugs.

Diarrhea Overall, about 10 percent of children were reported to have diarrhea in the two weeks immediately before the survey, with just 1 percent reporting bloody diarrhea. Overall, about six in ten children under age 5 with diarrhea (59 percent) were taken to a health facility or health provider for advice or treatment. Male children (55 percent) are less likely than female children (63 percent) to be taken for treatment or advice to a health facility or provider. Additionally, children living in the Coastal area are much less likely to be taken for treatment or advice (50 percent) than children in the Interior area (79 percent).

NUTRITION OF

UNICEF's country profile for Guinea-Bissau, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

UNICEF's country profile for Costa Rica, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

UNICEF's country profile for Barbados, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

This statistic depicts the percentage of mothers worldwide who used select words to describe their cesarean birth as of 2017. According to the data, 46.8 percent of women said that their cesarean birth was traumatic at that time.