GENEVA, Switzerland, April 10 (UPI) -- Caesarian sections can cause short- and long-term health problems for women and babies and medically unnecessary ones shouldn't be performed, the World Health Organization said Friday.
WHO issued a statement discouraging c-sections unless required due to prolonged labor, fetal distress or abnormal position of the baby.
The health organization cited studies in which the ideal rate in which c-sections are used is 10 percent to 15 percent. As rates rise toward 10 percent, the number of maternal and newborn deaths decline, but as the rate goes above 10 percent, there's no improvement of mortality rates.
"These conclusions highlight the value of caesarean section in saving the lives of mothers and newborns," says Dr Marleen Temmerman, Director of WHO's Department of Reproductive Health and Research. "They also illustrate how important it is to ensure a caesarean section is provided to the women in need - and to not just focus on achieving any specific rate."
In addition to causing short- and long-term health problems for mother and baby, increased rates of c-sections can overburden weak health systems.
WHO recommends a standardized internationally accepted way to classify c-section births for a useful way to compare rates across the globe.
"Information gathered in a standardized, uniform and reproducible way is critical for health care facilities as they seek to optimize the use of caesarean section and assess and improve the quality of care," Temmerman said. "We urge the healthcare community and decision-makers to reflect on these conclusions and put them into practice at the earliest opportunity."
