The number of cesarean births in the world has almost doubled in fifteen years, greatly exceeding the medical framework in which this operation must be performed.
In fifteen years, the number of cesarean births in the world has almost doubled, which gynecologists are worried about. In a report published in the Lancet this Friday, October 12, they are looking into the causes of such an “epidemic” and looking for solutions to stop it.
Between 2000 and 2015, the number of births by caesarean rose from 12% to 21%, even exceeding 40% in 15 countries (Dominican Republic, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Iran, etc.). The practice of caesareans has increased by an average of 6% per year in Asia, rising from 7.2% to 18.1% of births. The increase is around 2% per year in North America (32% caesareans in 2015) and in Western Europe (26.9%).
Short and long-term effects on the health of women and children
In France, the caesarean section rate has been stable since 2010 (20.4% in 2016), after having increased significantly over the previous twenty years. But the number of caesarean sections can vary from simple to double depending on the department. Guyana, the Alpes de Haute-Provence, Lozère and Haute-Corse record more than 23 caesarean sections for 100 births, while Yonne, Loir-et-Cher, Doubs, Guadeloupe, Jura and Haute-Corse Saône in part less than 15 per 100 births.
“A caesarean section can be a life-saving intervention when medically indicated, but this intervention can also have short and long-term effects on the health of women and children”, recall the gynecologists. In the short term, the risks of maternal and child mortality, uterine rupture, abnormal placenta, premature births and changes in neonatal physiology are increased by caesarean sections.
“There is growing evidence that babies born by caesarean section have different hormonal, physical, bacterial and medical exposures, and that these exposures can subtly alter neonatal physiology. Short-term risks include impaired immune development, increased likelihood increased allergy, atopy and asthma, and reduced intestinal microbial diversity”, warn gynecologists. “The persistence of these risks into older ages is less well studied, although an association between the need for caesarean section and a greater incidence of late-onset obesity and asthma in children is frequently reported”, they add.
Fear of childbirth
For example, and according to a recent study published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunologychildren born by caesarean section would have a higher risk of developing food allergies at the age of 13 than those who were not born naturally.
The gynecologists in this study put forward several explanatory factors to explain the increase in the use of caesarean sections: fear of childbirth, increase in the level of income and education of women in the world, decline in the skills of the medical profession to accompany childbirth. potentially difficult by natural means, comfort of the programming of day births, more attractive prices for doctors and clinics in the event of a caesarean section… Normally, it is estimated between 10 and 15% the proportion of caesarean sections absolutely necessary for medical reasons.
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