Birth from caesarean section needs to be avoided

UNNECESSARY delivery of children from caesarean section has phenomenally increased in the country mostly on greedy physicians’ advice linked to their clinical business. As per a report by “Save the Children” over 70 percent of birth by caesarean operation (C-section) is avoidable. But lack of proper supervision of private healthcare providers and absence of clear rules and regulations are allowing a section of doctors to lure expecting women to operation room. They give opinion in a way about risks and safety of baby that mother and the family make choice for delivert by C-section.

The number of such unnecessary C-section delivery was closer to six lakhs in 2016 that cost families over Tk 2523 crore to pay for the service. The World Health Organization recommended that a country should keep births through C-section below 15 percent, as it is a major operation that carries risks and takes a lot longer for a patient to recover compared to normal delivery. The government must enact laws to regulate delivery by C-section not only for cost but also because of adversely post-natal development that endangers mother health. In many cases mother dies on operation table for complications or poor training of doctors and equipment facilities, mostly in rural private clinics.

As per report unnecessary C-section delivery has shot up alarmingly in recent the years. In 2004, only 4 percent of childbirth was performed through C-section while the number rose to 23 percent in 2014 and it is now around 30 percent. Some doctors claim that many expectant mothers prefer C-section, but experts blame private healthcare providers in most cases for installing unknown fear in mother. Child and women health experts said C-section is a life-saving option and it is unnecessary in normal situation.

It is also true physicians sometimes don’t want to wait for normal delivery hours, because they fear in case of mishap, they are the one to be blamed in the first place and even face criminal charge for neglect. Nobody wants to be in trouble. An icddr,b study shows private hospitals performed more than double C-sections delivery compared to public hospitals in 2012. Private hospitals rarely use partograph, a graphical record of key data during labour and it means without checking possibility for natural delivery doctors go for C-section.

We suggest everyone should be aware about the danger of C-section and discourage childbearing mother and their families from making choice for it unless it seems to be necessary. The government should keep watch on hospitals, particularly on private clinics to make sure they are not exploiting patients fear and emotion. It is a crime to run unnecessary surgery on mother only to make fortune.