Cesarean Rates Decline in American Hospitals, Study Finds

A seven-year study of hospital-led interventions showed a significant reduction in the rate of cesarean sections--and that's a good thing. According to UPI, cesarean sections, or c-sections, increase the risks of mortality, longer hospital stays and healthcare costs for mother and baby compared to vaginal delivery. Dr. Mary A. Vadnais is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and first author of the study. She said in a press release, "The rate of cesarean delivery in low-risk women varies significantly from hospital to hospital across the nation, and such wide disparities suggest that some cesarean deliveries may be performed for reasons other than medical necessity." She added, "Our research shows that quality improvement initiatives can significantly reduce cesarean deliveries in low-risk women, benefiting mothers and reducing health care costs."