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Deaths from C-sections high in developing countries-WHO
Why is it in news?
- According to a new review published in The Lancet and study in World Health Organisation under its sexual and reproductive health section, Overuse and underuse of Caesarean section becoming a global concern.
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- Data points:(1) According to a new review published in The Lancet, maternal deaths following caesarean sections in low and middle-income countries are 100 times higher than that in high-income countries.(2) According to World Health Organisation under its sexual and reproductive health section, a quarter of all women who died while giving birth in low and middle-income countries had undergone caesarean section.(3) Every year, 3 lakh women die during childbirth, 99% of whom are from low and middle-income countries.
- Risk of complications:(1) The overuse and underuse of caesarean section were a current global concern and the focus of debates and research.(2) In many low and middle-income countries, overuse and underuse coexist making it particularly difficult to increase the provision of caesarean section to those women in need without aggravating the overuse.(3) Timely access to caesarean section when needed is required for safe childbirth.
- Causes of caesarean section deaths: A third of all deaths following caesarean section were attributed to postpartum haemorrhage (32%), 19% to pre-eclampsia, 22% to sepsis, and 14% to anaesthesia-related causes.
- Unjustified reasons: The study says that while many women in need of caesarean sections still do not have access to caesarean section particularly in low resource settings whereas many others undergo the procedure unnecessarily, for reasons which are not medically justified.
- Solution: Training is needed in decision making to reduce unnecessary caesarean sections, and in appropriate intrapartum care, including instrumental deliveries to reduce caesarean sections performed in the second stage of labour, which carry greater risk.
Source
The Hindu