Utah health status update /

Utah health status update: Cesarean section in Utah /

Cesarean section (C-section) is the surgical delivery of an infant through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. When used appropriately, C-section can be lifesaving for the mother or fetus. However, C-sections also result in longer hospital stays, longer recovery times, and higher medical costs. C-section rates in the U.S. increased from 4.5% in 1965 to a peak rate of 24.4% in 1987. Rates in the late 1980s were much higher than in other developed countries with comparable or better birth and maternal outcomes, leading to efforts to reduce the U.S. C-section rate. More recently, concerns have been raised that some efforts to reduce C-section rates further may have adverse outcomes. This Health Status Update reviews data from a recent Utah Department of Health and Health Data Committee report, Cesarean Section Deliveries in Utah Hospitals, 1992-1997.