West Bengal’s Caesarean Section Rate Climbs to 44.5% in NFHS‑6
Summary
- NFHS‑6 (2019‑21) shows 44.5% of births in West Bengal were delivered by C‑section, up from about 22% in 2015‑16.
- The state’s C‑section rate is almost double the national average of 27.2% reported in the same survey.
- Private health facilities, which account for roughly 30% of total births, performed nearly 60% of all Caesarean operations.
- The surge raises concerns about over‑medicalisation, higher maternal‑infant risk, and increased out‑of‑pocket expenditure for families.
- Policy experts suggest stricter guidelines, public awareness, and incentivising normal deliveries in both public and private sectors.
Key Facts
- · NFHS‑6 period: 2019‑2021.
- · West Bengal C‑section rate: 44.5%.
- · National C‑section rate: 27.2%.
- · Increase from 2015‑16: from ~22% to 44.5% (≈100% rise).
- · Private facilities handle ~30% of births but conduct ~60% of C‑sections.
Why it matters
The sharp rise in C‑section deliveries signals possible over‑use of surgical births, impacting maternal and neonatal health outcomes, escalating health‑care costs, and highlighting gaps in regulation of private obstetric care—issues central to health‑policy reforms and public‑welfare objectives in India.
#West Bengal#Caesarean Section#NFHS-6#Maternal Health#Private Healthcare#Public Health Policy