Nowadays, more and more women are having a caesarean section, with experts and consultants saying it is a major reason why deaths among mothers and children in childbirth has decreased significantly.
In fact, the proportion of births by C-section has increased from 7 percent in 1984 to 13 percent in 1993 and 30 percent by 2014 (the latest year available).
However, there are still concerns that the benefits of a caesarean may be outweighed by the increased “clinical risks and economic costs that it carries.”
Joint research between the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), TCD and UCD has investigated the factors driving the increasing use of caesarean sections (CS) using data on births recorded in the 19 Irish maternity units over the last 17 years.
While caesareans are a major reason why deaths in childbirth are a fraction of what they were in the past, there are now concerns that the benefits may be outweighed by the increased clinical risks and economic costs that it carries.
The primary reason why use of CS has increased over time is that medical advances have made the operation much safer, but the research also shows that factors like the increasing average age of mothers, particularly first time mothers and the clinical risks that this brings are crucial.
However, while the average level of risk associated with mothers giving birth in Irish hospitals is increasing, funding and staffing levels in maternity services has not kept pace with either the number of births or the risk profile.
“Although many of the obstetric trends in Ireland are challenging, Irish maternity units continue to deliver results which are among the best in the world,” Prof Michael Turner commented.
“If we wish to maintain this record we will need to invest to take account of adverse trends whilst constantly striving to coordinate and improve practice in Irish maternity services.”
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