Every third baby is born by caesarean section

The number of cesarean sections has doubled within 20 years in Germany

10/18/2012

As reported by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden (Destatis) on Thursday, the number of caesarean births increased by 0.2 percent last year. In 2011, of the 654,243 children born, 32.1 percent were born by caesarean section. Only 20 years ago, the proportion of cesarean section births was only half that. Critics do not always see medical needs as a reason for a caesarean section. It is often the parents themselves who want to set the exact date of birth or the natural childbirth more strenuous.

Saarland front-runner in cesarean births
As Destatis further states, there are major regional differences: „The Kaiserschnittrate in Saarland was highest with 38.2 percent; The fewest Caesarean sections were made with 23.2 percent in Saxony.“ Tools such as the suction cup (vacuum extraction) or the forceps were rarely used in 5.5 or 0.5 percent of the births last year. In a regional comparison, the bell was most frequently used in Berlin (8 percent) and least frequently in Thuringia (3.1 percent). „Most forceps were born in Saarland (1.2 percent of deliveries)“, reported Destatis. „Least in Berlin, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein (0.2 percent of deliveries in each case).“ Pregnant women were able to give birth in Germany in 784 clinics out of a total of 2,045 hospitals last year.

Criticism of cesarean births
From a medical point of view, various factors may speak in favor of caesarean section. These include, for example, transverse or breech end position of the child, a particularly large head circumference, a significantly increased birth weight and acute emergencies such as lack of oxygen of the child. However, more and more cesarean sections are performed exclusively at the request of the mother or parents. Experts consider this development to be partly critical, as the so-called Caesarean section brings risks for both mothers and children.

According to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) about 32 percent of children in Germany are born by caesarean section. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), this procedure only makes medical sense at about every eighth birth. The numbers of cesarean deliveries worldwide have risen significantly in recent years, whereby especially cultural views on birth are decisive, according to the BZgA. An international comparison confirms this connection. For example, in the Netherlands, only 16 percent of children are born by caesarean section, although the Dutch children and mothers are not significantly healthier than the Germans. (Ag)

Picture: Christian v. R.