Question : CAESARIAN DELIVERIES

(a) whether the caesarean deliveries have increased from 5 per cent to 65 per cent in the private hospitals as they are more profitable as per a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO);

(b) if so, the facts and details in this regard;

(c) whether these unwarranted caesarean deliveries pose serious public health problems to both the mother and child;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to make the expectant mothers aware about the pros and cons of such deliveries?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)to(e) As per the National Family Health Survey-III (NFHS-III, 2005-06) the percentage of deliveries conducted by caesarean section in the five years preceding the Survey was 8.5%, out of which 27.8.% were conducted in the private sector.

As per the report of a WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health (2007-08), for India, the overall Caesarean Section rate was 17.7%. Separate data on the proportion of caesarean sections in the private sector is not available through this Survey.

Availability of Emergency Obstetric Care, which includes among others Caesarean Section,is a life saving intervention for both mother and child during obstetric emergencies, when indicated.

Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the Reproductive and Child Health Programme Phase-II (RCH II), the Government of India seeks to provide quality maternal care which includes early identification and management of complications during pregnancy and child birth by skilled providers, for which one of the interventions is caesarean section. Early identification and timely management of complications also prevents unnecessary caesarean section.

As a part of Ante-natal care, pregnant women and their families are educated and counselled through ANMs/ ASHAs / other health functionaries on various aspects of safe motherhood, including early identification of danger signs and referral to appropriate health facilities for timely management of complications and avoiding unnecessary caesarean sections.