'Muhurat' births propel C-section rate to national high

HYDERABAD: Despite government intervention, Telangana continues to clock the highest percentage of C-section deliveries in India, as per latest health management information system (HMIS) report released by the ministry of health and family welfare. Although Telangana clocked a slight dip in numbers over last two years - 55.33% in 2020-2021 to 54.09% in 2021-2022 - it still tops the India table. The state, meanwhile, achieved 100% institutional deliveries.
"As per HMIS, 20.5% C-section deliveries were reported in 2019-2020. In 2020-21, it rose to 21.3% and 23.29% in 2021-22. The trends show highest C-section delivery percentage in Telangana," read the report.
In 2021-22 fiscal, C-section rate rose in most of Indian states, except in some states like Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, as per the report. Bihar (6.8%) and Andaman and Nicobar Island (0.8%) have lowest C-section rate in 2021-22.
Tamil Nadu had the highest C-section rate (56%) in 2020-21, which dipped to 52.1%. Telangana with 53.5% outpaced Tamil Nadu in the next fiscal with a highest C-section rate. Majority of these deliveries comes from private sector clinics, where families insist on auspicious day births. While C-section in private sector ranges from 60% to 90% across Telangana, currently such deliveries in government hospitals range from 30% to 40%, as per health department.
Requests for C-sections are, however, overwhelming even in government hospitals. "We regularly get requests for doing C-section deliveries by families, who say the patient is unable to bear labour pain and counselling on normal delivery often triggers friction. We do not entertain requests for 'muhurtam' (auspicious timing) deliveries and do C-sections where it is essential for life saving," said Dr S Nagamani, superintendent Government Maternity Hospital, Petlaburj, the largest tertiary centre for maternity cases.
She said World Health Organization has withdrawn its statement that percentage of C-section deliveries must be up to 15%. "It should be based on indications instead," she added, but said over 60% mark in private sector is too high.