CAESAREAN SECTION TRENDS IN UZBEKISTAN
Keywords:
cesarean section rate, maternal mortality, infant mortality, early neonatal mortalityAbstract
Caesarean sections (CS) save the lives of mothers and babies, but the unjustified increase in the number of CS is alarming. Materials and methods. We examined data from maternity hospital reports across the country, as well as publicly available national statistics for 1995–2023. Results. The frequency of CS in Uzbekistan is increasing: in 1995, the CS rate was 3.5%, in 2017 - 15.5%, and in 2023 - 26.4%. In 1995, 12,578 cesarean sections were performed in the country, in 2000 - 16,376, in 2010 - 54,862, in 2023 - 201,063 CS. Conclusions. The increase in the abdominal delivery rate to 10-11% in the population led to a sharp decline in maternal and infant mortality in the country. A further increase in the CS rate led to a slower decline in maternal and infant mortality. However, an increase in the CS rate above ≥20% in the population was not associated with a decrease in maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.
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