Is a rising caesarean section rate inevitable?
OBJECTIVE: To determine the indications for singleton caesarean sections in Scotland in 1994. DESIGN: Prospective survey of singleton caesarean sections using information provided by clinicians entering data onto a computer in labour wards. SETTING: Twenty-three consultant-led obstetric units in Scotland. POPULATION: Women undergoing caesarean section in participating Scottish maternity units during 1994. RESULTS: Using routinely collected data it was found that the caesarean section rate varied by maternal age, parity, gestation, history of previous section and hospital of delivery, but there was no difference by area of deprivation. 87.4% (8369/9573) of Scottish caesarean sections were included in the survey of which 8098 were in women with singleton pregnancies. Most singleton caesarean sections were undertaken in primiparae (50.5%), 31.2% were in women with a history of previous section and 18.3% were in multiparous women who had not had a previous section; 38.9% of the operations
