Claudia Chi1, Deanette Pang2, Izzuddin M Aris1, Wei Ting Teo2, Sarah Weiling Li1, Arijit Biswas1,3, Eu Leong Yong1,3, Yap Seng Chong1,3, Kelvin Tan2,4, Michael S Kramer5. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore City, Singapore. 2. Policy Research & Evaluation Division, Ministry of Health, Singapore City, Singapore. 3. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore. 4. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore. 5. Faculty of Medicine, Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rates of cesarean birth have continued to rise in many high-income countries. We examined the temporal trends and predictors of cesarean birth in Singapore. METHODS: Linked hospitalization and Birth Registry data were used to examine all live births to Singaporean citizens and permanent residents between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014 (n = 342 932 births). We calculated cesarean rates and age-adjusted average annual percent change (AAPC) in those rates and used sequential multivariable regression modeling to assess the contribution of changes in predictors to the change in cesarean rates over time. RESULTS: The overall cesarean rate in Singapore rose from 32.2% in 2005 to 37.4% in 2014. Among singleton, cephalic, term pregnancies, the two major predictions of cesarean were nulliparity and previous cesarean, each accounting for just over one-third of all cesareans. Higher AAPC was observed in nulliparous women of Indian ethnicity (0.74% [95% confidence interval 0.68-0.80]) compared with Chinese (0.62% [0.60-0.65]) or Malay women (0.63% [0.59-0.68]), and in women who delivered in private hospitals (0.62% [0.60-0.64]) compared with those delivered under subsidized care in public hospitals (0.58% [0.52-0.63]). Parity and education had the largest influences on cesarean birth trend (attenuation of AAPC from 0.62% [0.59-0.66] to 0.39% [0.38-0.40] after adjustment). CONCLUSION: Cesarean birth has continued to rise at a steady rate in Singapore. Strategies to curb this temporal increase include avoidance of medically unnecessary primary cesarean and attempts at trial of labor and vaginal delivery among women with a history of prior cesarean.
BACKGROUND: Rates of cesarean birth have continued to rise in many high-income countries. We examined the temporal trends and predictors of cesarean birth in Singapore. METHODS: Linked hospitalization and Birth Registry data were used to examine all live births to Singaporean citizens and permanent residents between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2014 (n = 342 932 births). We calculated cesarean rates and age-adjusted average annual percent change (AAPC) in those rates and used sequential multivariable regression modeling to assess the contribution of changes in predictors to the change in cesarean rates over time. RESULTS: The overall cesarean rate in Singapore rose from 32.2% in 2005 to 37.4% in 2014. Among singleton, cephalic, term pregnancies, the two major predictions of cesarean were nulliparity and previous cesarean, each accounting for just over one-third of all cesareans. Higher AAPC was observed in nulliparous women of Indian ethnicity (0.74% [95% confidence interval 0.68-0.80]) compared with Chinese (0.62% [0.60-0.65]) or Malay women (0.63% [0.59-0.68]), and in women who delivered in private hospitals (0.62% [0.60-0.64]) compared with those delivered under subsidized care in public hospitals (0.58% [0.52-0.63]). Parity and education had the largest influences on cesarean birth trend (attenuation of AAPC from 0.62% [0.59-0.66] to 0.39% [0.38-0.40] after adjustment). CONCLUSION: Cesarean birth has continued to rise at a steady rate in Singapore. Strategies to curb this temporal increase include avoidance of medically unnecessary primary cesarean and attempts at trial of labor and vaginal delivery among women with a history of prior cesarean.
Authors: Antonio Hernández-Martínez; Juan Miguel Martínez-Galiano; Julián Rodríguez-Almagro; Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez; Juan Gómez-Salgado Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-03-12 Impact factor: 3.390