(a) whether the percentage of Caesarean (C-section) deliveries in the country is constantly on the rise;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of Caesarean deliveries performed in the Government and private hospitals during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to bring down C-section deliveries and maintain C-section rates within acceptable norms in the country?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b): The percentage of deliveries conducted by Caesarean section has increased from 71 % National Family Health Survey-II (NFHS-II, 1998-99) to 8.5% in National Family Health Survey-III (NFHS-III, 2005-06).
As per the World Heath Statistics report released by WHO in 2012, the percentage of births by caesarean section between 2005-2010 was 9% for India.
(c): The number of C section deliveries conducted in the public and private health facilities in the last 3 years and the current year (upto June, 2014), State & UT wise as per the Health Management Information System (HMIS) is placed at Annexure.
(d): Under the National Health Mission (NHM), in order to maintain C- section rates within the acceptable standards, the Government of India has taken a number of steps to provide quality maternal care which are :
# Early identification and timely management of complications to prevent unnecessary caesarean section.
# Safe motherhood booklet being given during ANC to the mothers contains information on signs and symptoms of complications and place of referral so that the pregnant women is informed where to go in case of emergency.
# Under JSSK, every pregnant women is entitled for free referral transport during complications of pregnancy and child birth so that services are accessed timely.
# Similarly, the service providers particularly Auxillary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) & Staff Nurses (SNs) have been trained for maintaining Partographs which helps timely detection for delayed progress of labour.
# The ANMs & SNs have also been empowered and oriented on identification and basic management of various types of complication during pregnancy and child birth.
# 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.
All the above steps helps in early identification and timely management of complications and avoiding unnecessary caesarean sections.