Jaipur: Nearly one in every two women delivering in Rajasthan’s urban private hospitals now undergoes a caesarean section, according to this year’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6). This trend has raised concerns among health experts about the growing dependence on surgical births and the financial burden they place on families.
Rising C-Section Rates
The survey, released recently, shows Rajasthan’s overall C-section rate at 35%, while the figure rises to 49.4% in urban private hospitals. This mirrors a broader national pattern, with 54% of deliveries in private health facilities across India now conducted through C-sections. Nationally, the rate has risen steadily from 8.5% in 2005-06 to 17.2% in 2015-16 and 27.2% in 2023-24.
Concerns Over Medical Necessity
While caesarean deliveries are often life-saving in complicated pregnancies, health experts say the figures raise questions about whether all such procedures are medically necessary. The findings come at a time when maternal healthcare has come under scrutiny following reports of kidney-related complications among women after deliveries at Bikaner’s PBM Hospital. Although unrelated to caesarean rates, the incident has renewed attention on the quality of maternal care and monitoring of delivery practices across healthcare facilities in the state.
Financial Burden on Families
For many families, the issue is not just medical but financial. A C-section in a private hospital can cost between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh, often forcing families to borrow money, dip into savings, or mortgage jewellery. The burden is especially significant in rural Rajasthan, where women contribute substantially to agriculture, dairy work, livestock rearing, and household enterprises. Recovery after surgery can take six to eight weeks, affecting household incomes and increasing dependence on family members.
Expert Opinions
Chhaya Pancholi of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan said the findings warrant closer scrutiny of childbirth practices in private healthcare facilities. “A C-section is a major surgery and should be performed only when there is a clear medical need. The concern is that many women and families are not fully informed about alternatives before being advised to undergo surgery,” she said. Pancholi added that informed consent should involve a proper discussion of risks, benefits and available options rather than merely obtaining signatures on consent forms.
However, obstetricians caution against assuming that every caesarean delivery is unnecessary. Dr Aditi Bansal, consultant gynaecologist at Gangori Hospital in Jaipur, said changing demographics and rising numbers of high-risk pregnancies have contributed to the increase. “Women are increasingly conceiving at a later age, and we are seeing more cases involving diabetes, hypertension, obesity, IVF pregnancies and other high-risk conditions. Many patients are also referred to tertiary hospitals with complications, which naturally increases the likelihood of caesarean deliveries,” she said. Dr Bansal said unnecessary surgeries should be discouraged but stressed that decisions on delivery methods must be guided by the safety of both mother and child.
