Chapters authored
Correlates of Caesarean Section Delivery in West Bengal, India: An Analysis Based on DLHS-3
It has been well recognised that medically unnecessary caesarean section (C-section) delivery could increase morbidity risks for both the mother and her child and also could put strain on both institutional and individual assets mainly in developing countries. The present study tried to assess the variations in C-section delivery rates by women’s background characteristics and to examine the factors associated with C-section delivery in West Bengal—a state of India. Data from the third round of the District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS-3) 2007–2008, covering 6447 ever-married women of age 15–49 years, were used. The results reveal that about 12% women delivered their babies by C-section irrespective of place of delivery, but it rose to about 24% in only institutional delivery. It is also found that the rate of C-section delivery was excessively high in private health facilities (55.8%) followed by higher educated women (50.4%) and for health insurance (36.4%), and antenatal care service eight or more times (36%). The results of predicted (adjusted) probability computed from logistic regression reveal that delivery in private health facilities, higher maternal age, lower birth order and higher level of education were the main influential factors of C-section delivery.
Part of the book: Maternal and Child Health Matters Around the World