The rate of caesarean section (CS) has been increasing worldwide for over two decades. In Western Europe, average CS rates rose from 19.6% in 2000 to 26.9% in 2015, representing an average increase of 2.1% per year. This increasing trend has been replicated in both Ireland and England/Wales, with overall CS rates having reached 32.7% and 27.8%, respectively, in 2016. While CS can be a life-saving intervention when medically indicated, once levels exceed 10% to 15% there is no evidence of a corresponding reduction in maternal or newborn mortality rates.
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