Caesarean sections have become the new norm in private hospitals across India, with such deliveries accounting for 54% of births in private facilities during 2023-24. This revelation comes from the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data released on Friday.
Regional Disparities in C-Section Rates
In Bengal, C-section deliveries at private facilities stood at a staggering 87.7%, while Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recorded 84% and 66%, respectively. Overall, in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, over 62% and 52% of all deliveries are through C-sections, whereas Bengal's overall rate is 44.5%.
Among the 27 states and two large Union Territories (Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir), 18 states reported that more than half of births in private facilities are via C-section.
National Trends Over Time
India's C-section rate has been steadily climbing: from 8.5% in 2004-05 to 17.2% in 2015-16, then to 21.5% in 2019-21, and now reaching 27.2% in the latest report. The increase has been slower in government hospitals, rising from 15.2% in 2005-06 to 16.9% by 2023-24.
Extreme Cases: Jammu & Kashmir and Southern States
In Jammu & Kashmir, the C-section rate is as high as 90% in private facilities and nearly 49% in government facilities. Although government hospitals account for 80% of births in the UT, C-sections now represent more than half of all deliveries.
Southern states also show high C-section rates in government hospitals: over 39% in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 38% in Andhra Pradesh, over 34% in Karnataka, and 48% in Telangana.
Low C-Section States: A Different Concern
While most of India faces excessively high C-section rates, states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh have very low overall proportions: about 13% in Bihar and 16% in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. This is due to extremely low rates in government facilities: 2.7% in Bihar, 6.1% in Jharkhand, and over 10% in Madhya Pradesh. Experts suggest this indicates poor access to emergency medical procedures, contributing to high maternal mortality in these states. A similar pattern is seen in Rajasthan.
Global Context
The World Health Organization considers a C-section rate of 10-15% as acceptable, but most countries exceed this. For instance, the rate is over 32% in the US, 45% in the UK, over 52% in Brazil, and over 42% in Latin America. In contrast, Scandinavian countries with midwife-led care, such as Sweden and Norway, have rates of 19% and 16%, respectively. France records about 21%.
