In Karnataka, where C-section delivery figures have jumped, State to now audit all such procedures Premium
Caesarean section deliveries in both public and private hospitals in Karnataka have seen a jump from 38% in 2022-2023 to 46% in 2024-2025 (from April to October). While the rate of increase has been huge in private hospitals – from 48% in 2022-2023 to 61% this year (from April to October), public hospitals too have seen a substantial rise from 32% in 2022-2023 to 36% this year.
Of all the districts in Karnataka, Tumakuru district has been consistently recording the highest percentage of C-section deliveries in the State. In fact, the overall percentage of C-section deliveries in this district (both public and private hospitals put together) has gone up from 63% in 2022-2023 to 67% in 2024-2025 (from April to October), according to data from the State Health Department.
Data revealed that C-section deliveries in private hospitals in this district have seen a jump from 76% in 2022-2023 to 80% this year. At public hospitals, the increase is from 52% in 2022-2023 to 55%.
Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department), told The Hindu on Tuesday, “We are unable to analyse this trend in Tumakuru and it requires to be studied in detail. A team of experts from the departments of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education apart from the private sector will be set up to conduct the audit and Tumakuru will be taken up on priority.”
The State Health Department is now planning an audit of all C-section deliveries conducted in Karnataka.
The lowest C-section rates have been recorded in Yadgir, Kodagu, Raichur, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi, where the percentage is below 40%. Yadgir has the least percentage of C-section deliveries at 32% in private hospitals and 15% in public hospitals this year. Overall, C-section deliveries in Yadgir have risen from 11% in 2022-2023 to 16% this year.
While Bengaluru Rural is among the top five districts with a high C-section rate, in Bengaluru Urban, C-section deliveries have shot up from 40% in 2022-2023 to 49% this year (from April to October).
Savitha C., Medical Superintendent of the State-run Vani Vilas Hospital, attributed the rising trend to several factors including late conception, infertility issues and low tolerance level for labour pain among women.
“While vaginal deliveries are not advisable in high-risk pregnancies, most women go in for a C-section by choice due to perceived lower risks. Besides, the one-child norm, inf3ertility issues due to Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and obesity and IVF pregnancies also contribute to the rising trend of C-section deliveries. What is concerning is that obesity is high even in urban slums,” Dr Savitha said.
The doctor said the government was setting up midwifery-led care units in district hospitals to mentally and physically prepare women (who are not from the high-risk category) to go in for vaginal deliveries. “We have a midwifery-led unit running in Vani Vilas since January 2023. Over 100 deliveries are conducted through this unit every month here,” she added.
Published - December 18, 2024 12:08 am IST
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