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As caesarean section (CS) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide, the contribution by Guo and colleagues in the May issue investigating birth outcomes following this procedure is especially timely and pertinent.(1-3) Guo et al. state that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a CS rate of 10-15% of deliveries. The 10-15% rate emerged in 1985. However, based on new evidence, the 2015 WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates now recommends that CS should be provided to all pregnant people in need, rather than seeking to achieve a certain population rate.(4) Focusing on specific rates can create challenges as it takes the focus away from the needs of pregnant people and babies. In addition, it can skew the objectives of Public Health and Social Policies.(5)
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Yanfang Guo, Malia S.Q. Murphy, Erica Erwin, et al. Birth outcomes following cesarean delivery on maternal request: a population-based cohort study. CMAJ 2021;193:E634-E644.
- Gwinyai Masukume, Ali S. Khashan, Susan M.B. Morton, Philip N. Baker, Louise C. Kenny, Fergus P. McCarthy. Caesarean section delivery and childhood obesity in a British longitudinal cohort study. PLoS One 2019;14(10):e0223856.
- Gwinyai Masukume, Fergus P. McCarthy, Philip N. Baker, et al. Association between caesarean section delivery and obesity in childhood: a longitudinal cohort study in Ireland. BMJ Open 2019;9(3):e025051.
- Ana P. Betran, Maria R Torloni, Jun J. Zhang, Metin A. Gülmezoglu. WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates. BJOG 2016;123(5):667-70.
- Emilie Courtin, Sooyoung Kim, Shanshan Song, Wenya Yu, Peter Muennig. Can Social Policies Improve Health? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 38 Randomized Trials. The Milbank Q 2020;98(2):297-371.