J&K’s C-Section Crisis: 8 in 10 Births Surgical in Private Hospitals

Srinagar, June 1: In a startling revelation, the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data has unveiled a deeply concerning trend: a staggering 8 out of 10 women who seek childbirth services in private hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir undergo Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries. This alarming statistic places J&K as the second highest among Indian states and union territories in terms of C-section rates in private medical facilities.
The NFHS-5 data paints a grim picture, with Jammu and Kashmir recording an 82.1% C-section rate in private hospitals, trailing only West Bengal at 82.7%. Other states and UTs with alarmingly high rates include Tamil Nadu (81.5%), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (79.2%), and Assam (70.6%). Notably, many of these regions have historically struggled with high surgical birth rates.
Across India, the NFHS-5 data reveals a worrying nationwide trend, with one in two women delivering in private hospitals undergoing C-sections. This surge has led to a significant jump in overall C-section rates, from 17.2% in 2014-2015 to 21.5% in 2019-2020, indicating that one in five childbirths now involves a surgical procedure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an ideal C-section rate of 10-15% for a population, as rates above this threshold have not been shown to improve maternal or infant mortality rates. In fact, unnecessary C-sections can pose risks to both the mother and the newborn.
While C-sections can be life-saving when medically justified, the alarmingly high rates in private hospitals raise concerns about the potential overmedication of childbirth and the potential financial incentives for healthcare providers to perform surgical deliveries.
The surge in C-section rates is not limited to private facilities alone. Public hospitals have also witnessed an increase, from 11.9% to 14.3% nationwide. However, this rise may be partly attributed to the increase in institutional deliveries in public facilities, which rose from 52.1% in 2014-2015 to 61.9% in 2019-2020. States like Sikkim, Punjab, Goa, Chandigarh, and Tamil Nadu witnessed the most significant spikes in public hospital C-section rates.
Experts cite various factors contributing to the alarming rise in C-section deliveries, particularly in private hospitals. These include financial incentives for healthcare providers, fear of legal consequences in case of complications during natural deliveries, and the perceived convenience of scheduling births.
However, this trend raises serious concerns about the overmedication of childbirth and the potential risks associated with unnecessary surgical interventions. Efforts must be made to promote safe and natural deliveries while ensuring access to C-sections when medically required, especially in public healthcare facilities where some states like Bihar report alarmingly low C-section rates.
Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, including raising awareness among expectant mothers, implementing stricter regulations and guidelines for healthcare providers, and improving access to quality maternal care services across the region.