Caesarean Birth Rate Continues Rise

Earlier this year, I mentioned the ongoing debate about the rise in elective Caesarean births. This week the National Center for Health Statistics released statistics highlighting the fact that the Caesarean birth rate in the United States set a new record in 2003.

In 2003, 1.13 million of the 4.1 million births in the United States were Caesarean deliveries — 27.6 percent of all live births. According to the NCHS, that represents an increase of about 1/3rd since 1996. Unfortunately, the report doesn’t distinguish between elective and non-elective Caesareans. This is the seventh straight year that the Caesarean birth rate has risen in the United States.

Another interesting trend is the odd trend at the opposite ends of the age scale. The teenage birth rate is continuing to drop, while the number of births by women 35-44 continues to increase.

The birth rate for unmarried teens fell, but the overall birth rate to unmarried women increased by 3 percent from 2002.

Sources:

Birth Rate for Women Aged 40-44 Years Rose in 2003, New Report Finds. Press Release, National Center for Health Statistics, November 23, 2004.

Leave a Reply