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Births by Caesarean section in the United States of America and in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Colin Francome  and
Peter J. Huntingford
Colin Francome
Affiliation:
Department of Social Science, Middlesex Polytechnic, The Burroughs, London
Peter J. Huntingford
Affiliation:
London Hospital Medical College, Turner Street, London
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Summary

The rise in Caesarian section rates has been much greater in the United States than in Britain. This article analyses the reasons for these trends and finds they are not clearly related to good medical practice. It is concluded that it should be a cause for concern if rates rise above 6% of live births. In this case operations must be shown to be in the best interests of the mothers and their babies.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , July 1980 , pp. 353 - 362
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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