Cyprus-Forum.com

[YFred]

C-sections account for over half of births in Cyprus
By Alexia Saoulli

MEDICAL authorities yesterday jumped into action after it emerged one in two women have caesareans in the private health sector at a rate that far exceeds international recommendations.

The Medical Association said it would launch an investigation into reports that some obstetricians performed as many as five times more C-sections than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation.

At 55 per cent of all deliveries in the private sector, the Caesarean-section rate is almost four times the 15 per cent maximum rate recommended by the WHO and six times the preferred rate cited by many researchers.

Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s House Health Committee meeting, Association president Dr Andreas Demetriou said the matter would be discussed at the association’s meeting next Tuesday.

“It is the first item on the agenda,” he said.

Demetriou said he hoped that with the Gynaecological Association’s co-operation they would be able to work towards reducing the high proportion of C-sections in Cyprus.

AKEL deputy Panicos Stavrianos, who sits on the House Health Committee, said the number of caesareans performed in the private sector was of “great concern” and it was time parliament took a stand on the matter.

“I must stress that if these figures were hidden in locked drawers all this time then we must look for the reasons why they were kept quiet and if it emerges there is accountability then it should be attributed,” he said.

Stavrianos was referring to reports in Politis newspaper, which first broke the story regarding the high caesarean incidence rate, that the Health Ministry had initially denied having statistics for the private sector. The Medical Services later provided the information which revealed that the private hospitals and clinics in the districts of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta were performing C-sections at an annual rate of 56.1 per cent. The data also revealed some clinics had a caesarean performance rate as high as 83 per cent.

Stavrianos said the Gynaecological Association had a duty to provide information on the issue and to state its position. The deputy, who is also a practicing forensic pathologist, said he believed there were ways to regulate and control when and why C-sections were performed based on medical ethical protocols.

Stavrianos expressed his horror at reports that in some cases private clinics performed caesareans on 80 per cent of their pregnant patients.

“This on its own is dangerous and we have a duty to investigate,” he said.

“I can tell you that caesareans are one of the reasons of Cyprus’ low birth rate, if you combine them with the difficulties a pregnant woman faces,” he said.

Stavrianos’ statement was based on the fact that beyond three caesareans some women face a substantial surgical risk that needs to be weighed against whether they really want to have another baby.

Asked whether the high incidence rate was financially motivated, Stavrianos said he wanted to wait and see what the investigation concluded. Estimates suggest the private sector makes a staggering total profit of €3.5 million by plugging C-sections over having a natural birth.

“We are forced to wait for the official scientific opinion of the Gynaecological Association and the Medical Association which will be judged on the decisions they take,” he said.

Stavrianos also asked the Gynaecological Association and gynaecologist-obstetricians whether it would be possible for them to keep records of the number of C-sections performed so as to allow better controls for ethical reasons and for their own best interest.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[Oracle]

Another form of male control over women's bodies.

We also used to carry out amputations without anaesthetic, but now that anaesthesia is available, how many would still opt out of pain relief?

It's the mother's Human Right to choose and plan the birth as much as possible.

The worst thing is to end up with an Emergency Cesarean because the doctors made you feel guilty, and things start to go wrong ....

[paliometoxo]

exacty i agree with u

[YFred]

How is it another form of control by males?

I fully appreciate and agree that a mother can choose the birth method as she please, however is it medically in the interest of the mother to use such a method? and if it is, does it pose any other future threats to the mothers well being or mankind’s well being?

If there is no other issue why is it not standard practice and recommended by doctors as first choice?

[Oracle]

The (non) issue is first and foremost financial.

Women face the most difficult deliveries out of all the animal kingdom ... due to our upright stance pushing the hips forward and with a selected tendency for narrower hips to improve gait.

Although it is a world wide trend to move towards more Cesarean sections, it is limited by finances.

Cyprus (unoccupied) is more affluent, hence the women can more easily command the best/safest methods.

From a practical point of view, but purely empirical, it seems to me GC women have amongst the narrowest hips, so may naturally have the more difficult births.

The evolutionary trend has been towards narrower hips as this reduces back problems, improves athleticism and mobility generally ... it's all 'give and take' with Mother Nature

[paliometoxo]

yes they do say its selfish and not good for the baby to controll the pain but if a man knew what pain the women goes through with birth ...

[Z4]

Yes Fronts they have but IMO they are still better looking than hairy female TC's!

[YFred]

I notice there is no mention about control by males?

Regards to occupation, you will find that it has no effect on the trend; it equally applies to TRNC ladies.

Where does control come into it?

Are we not encouraging the evolution of women who will not be able to give natural birth which is storing birth problems for future generations?

[YFred]

yes they do say its selfish and not good for the baby to controll the pain but if a man knew what pain the women goes through with birth ...

What do you call 25 years living with a woman, painless? Man commits murder and is released after 15 years for good behaviour, I served my full sentence.

[YFred]

Yes Fronts they have but IMO they are still better looking than hairy female TC's!

Thats interesting, because I was under the impression the the GC ladies were more hairy than TCs. Thats my personal experince. Are you sure you crossed the border, or were you too drunk at the time?