A study published in "The Lancet" and conducted by the WHO (World Health Organization) in several Latin American countries, indicates that Caesarean section can be harmful when used in healthy women, both for mom and baby.
We have already commented on the increase in cesarean deliveries worldwide, of which 49% are scheduled, 46% are performed during childbirth because complications arise and only 5% are emergency interventions. José Villar, a member of the WHO Department of Reproductive Health, says that, "The high rates of cesarean deliveries do not necessarily indicate that the medical services are of higher quality. They are even causing harm derived from this practice."
The study determined that the more cesarean deliveries were performed, the higher the percentage of postpartum complications, including 2% of mothers suffered a serious illness, 33% needed antibiotic treatment after delivery and 0.4% of babies died. We are surprised that fundamentally, the increase of this type of interventions, both in public and private hospitals, is by choice, when the rest of the frequent causes for which a vaginal birth is not performed is the large size of the baby with respect to mothers, a previous caesarean section and fetal stress.
In addition to all these data, they also touch the economic ones, which according to the WHO, the expense involves performing unnecessary caesarean sections, could be dedicated to improving maternal and child care and financing necessary research. Right, right?
