Critical Care Obstetrics and Gynecology

Caesarean Section Rates plotted against Stillbirth Rates from 132 countries. (W.H.O. Report).

From data obtained from the World Health Organization, the pattern of Stillbirth Rates versus Caesarean Section Rates indicate a trimodal pattern broadly divided into three groups.

The three groups can be differentiated from the varying stillbirth rates in various countries (data available for both Stillbirths rates and Caesarean Section rates in 132 countries):

Group A Stillbirth rates of 2 - 4/1000 live births,

Group B Stillbirth rates of 4.1 - 12/1000 live births and

Group C Stillbirth rates of 12.1 - over 30 stillbirths /1000.

The maximum stillbirth rate recorded was 46.7/1000 in Pakistan.

Group A (Stillbirth rates of 2- 4/1000 live births) are well developed countries with adequate prenatal and neonatal care.

Group B are countries that have Caesarean Section rates above 15% but have stillbirth rates of 4.1 - 12/100 live births possibly due deficencies in healthcare systems including neonatal care.

Group C (Stillbirth rates of 12.1 - over 30 stillbirths /1000) are in the main underdeveloped countries with Caesarean Section rates lower than 10% and where prenatal care may also be deficient.

None of the countries with stillbirth rates of 2- 4 /1000 have a Caesarean Section rate between the World Health Organization recommended 10-15% thresholds.

Figure 1: Caesarean Section Rates plotted against Stillbirth Rates from 132 countries. (W.H.O. Report).