Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, July 7: A report has revealed a sharp shift in childbirth trends in Jammu and Kashmir, showing that nearly nine out of every ten babies born in private hospitals are delivered through Caesarean section (C-section), while more than half of all births in the Union Territory now take place through surgical delivery.
According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) (2023-24), available with the news agency JKNS, 51.0 percent of all births in Jammu and Kashmir were delivered through Caesarean section, up from 41.7 percent recorded in the previous NFHS-5 (2019-21).
The survey shows that 90.0 percent of deliveries in private health facilities were conducted through C-section during 2023-24, compared to 82.1 percent in NFHS-5, indicating a further rise in surgical deliveries in the private healthcare sector.
Government hospitals also recorded a substantial increase. According to the report, 48.6 percent of births in public health facilities were delivered through Caesarean section, up from 42.7 percent in the previous survey.
The findings have also sparked a broader debate over whether the exceptionally high rate of Caesarean deliveries in private hospitals reflects growing medical necessity or an increasing dependence on surgical childbirth.
While the survey does not identify the reasons behind the trend, the fact that 90 percent of births in private hospitals are through C-section, compared to 48.6 percent in government hospitals, is likely to intensify discussions on maternal healthcare practices, affordability and the rising preference for surgical deliveries in the Union Territory.
The survey further highlights that urban areas reported a significantly higher C-section rate than rural areas. While 68.9 percent of births in urban Jammu and Kashmir were delivered through Caesarean section, the corresponding figure for rural areas stood at 47.1 percent.
Despite the increase in surgical deliveries, institutional childbirth continues to remain high in the Union Territory. The report records 93.6 percent institutional deliveries, reflecting continued access to healthcare facilities for maternal services.
The survey also highlights the expenditure on childbirth. As per the findings, the all-India average expenditure per childbirth in government hospitals is Rs 2,299, while in private hospitals it is Rs 37,630.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the survey reveals that the average expenditure on childbirth is Rs 3,867 in government hospitals and Rs 42,746 in private hospitals, both higher than the national average.
The findings assume significance as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that Caesarean section rates at the population level should ideally remain between 10 and 15 percent, beyond which higher rates are not necessarily associated with improved maternal or newborn health outcomes.
The report is expected to draw attention towards childbirth trends and maternal healthcare practices in Jammu and Kashmir. (JKNS)
