Health Ministry considers limiting cesarean operations
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The Health Ministry will form a national committee to re-evaluate the regulations imposed on giving birth by cesarean section, in light of findings published this year by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The decision follows the WHO’s recommendations that C-sections should only be used in emergencies, ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said on Wednesday.

Abdel Ghaffar told the privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that C-sections account for 52 percent of deliveries in Egypt. Port Said has the highest rate of 77 percent, with Sohag the lowest at 24 percent.

In an interview on the “Al-Hayah Al-Youm” television show on Wednesday, aired on Al-Hayah satellite channel, Abdel Ghaffar said that the standard percentage should be between 10 and 15 percent. Italy and Portugal have similarly high rates at over 40 percent, while China is at 46 percent and Turkey at 50 percent.

These numbers are from sample surveys into birth and aftercare in Egypt, including delivery procedures, vaccinations, infant health and hepatitis C analysis. “We also follow up on birth records in all general and some private hospitals,” Abdel Ghaffar explained.

The Health Ministry spokesperson suggested that many women prefer the intrusive procedure, as it’s less painful and time bound. Also, with new methods of anesthesia, physicians tend to prefer cesareans as they are financially more rewarding, he added.

Health Ministry official Mohamed Nour Eddin told Al-Masry Al-Youm that C-sections are double the cost of natural births.

According to former ministry official Nasr al-Sayed, C-sections are popular in Egypt due to the brevity of the procedure, which can last for just half an hour, versus a natural birth, which can take up to 24 hours.

Sayed called for immediate regulations on the operation in all hospitals and medical units, in line with the WHO’s recommendations.

In April, the WHO published a paper on C-section rates, stating that the procedure is effective in reducing infant and maternal mortality rates in cases of medical emergency.

However, the study also showed that the procedure may cause permanent disability or death, and recommended applying the Robson classification system, which permits C-sections in cases of spontaneous delivery before 37 weeks, or if women have previous uterine scars, multiple births or a breech pregnancy. 

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