Cesarean section delivery rates: United States, 1981.

The rate of cesarean section delivery in the United States has risen from 4.5 per 100 deliveries in 1965 to 17.9 in 1981. The rate is highest in the Northeast, in hospitals of 500 beds or more, in proprietary hospitals, for Blue Cross as a source of payment, and for mothers aged 35 years and over. The rate is lowest in the North Central region, in hospitals with less than 100 beds, in government hospitals, for self-pay patients, and for mothers under 20 years of age.