The percentage of deliveries performed by cesarean section varies greatly from country to country in Europe. This is what emerges from a scientific study by the City University of London (United Kingdom), published in the British journal of obstetrics and gynecology (BJOG) on March 9, 2015.
The eight British researchers in the study analyzed the data collected by the Euro-Peristat project, including the 27 countries of the European Union, but also Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. According to the study, the European average is around 25% of caesarean sections out of the total number ofchildbirth. This figure is still far from the 15% of cesarean deliveries recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the results of the study, it is in the North of Europe that we find the “good pupils”, since Iceland, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway are in the lead. They total respectively 14.8%, 16.8%, 17% and 17.1% of deliveries by cesarean section. Sweden is also a good student, with 17.5% of Caesarean sections.
In contrast, southern and eastern Europe posted results well above the WHO recommendations. There are 36.3% of caesarean sections in Portugal, 36.9% in Romania, 38% in Italy and even 52.2% in Cyprus. In France, more than one in five women give birth by caesarean section (21%), a figure which is in the low average of Europe.
The different health systems involved
If the cesarean section can be useful when the conditions are not favorable for a vaginal birth, it should not be regarded as a harmless act. This method carries with it risks of complications, such as hemorrhages, infections or even pulmonary embolisms.
Several factors can explain the European disparities around the practice of cesarean sections. The organization of the health system, the training of obstetricians and the number of midwives and midwives differ from country to country, and influence the rate of cesarean. Thus, the countries of the North with traditions in common and similarities of medical practices show relatively similar rates.
In the conclusion of their article, the authors stress that these persistent differences in the rate of cesarean sections in Europe highlight “a lack of consensus” about the practice of childbirth. They also specify that further research should be carried out to observe the impact of the different guidelines, the different health systems and their funding on the care provided during childbirth.
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