Need or purpose: An examination of caesarian delivery in India

In India the rate of caesarean section delivery has increased from 7.2 per cent to 17.2 per cent between 1998–99 and 2015–16 (NFHS, 2015–16). The contribution of private institutions is much higher than public institutions in caesarian deliveries. By using NFHS data, the present paper analyses the trend and pattern of caesarian delivery in India. The rate of caesarian section deliveries has been continuously increasing, especially in southern states. Private institutions are now becoming only profit making health care system, so there is a need to improve public health care infrastructure to attract patients and to reduce C-section for non-medical explanations.