Key Findings...
After declining for years, the C-section rate in
Pennsylvania hospitals increased 8.2% between 1997 and 1999 from 19.5% to
21.1%. From 1998 to 1999, the C-section rate increased 6.0%.
The Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) rate is falling. Since 1996, the VBAC
rate in Pennsylvania hospitals has fallen 12.3% from a level of 39.7% to 34.8%
in 1999.
Even after separating patients into high and low risk categories, Medicaid
recipients had the lowest C-section rate and the highest VBAC rate among major
payor groups.
There is significant variation in C-section rates among hospitals even after
separating the deliveries by risk.
The number of repeat C-sections for women at low risk for a C-section delivery
in Pennsylvania was 9,322 in 1999.
Uterine rupture (a potentially serious complication) occurred in only 0.1% of
all deliveries in Pennsylvania hospitals in 1999; none of these complications
resulted in fatality.
The #1 reason for a C-section in Pennsylvania during 1999 was a previous
C-section after accounting for other maternal risk factors.
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