The cesarean delivery rate increased to 32.1% in 2021
In 2021, the cesarean delivery rate increased 1% to 32.1%,
from 31.8% in 2020; this is the second increase in a row after
the rate had declined in 2018 and 2019 (Table 17). The cesarean
delivery rate peaked in 2009 at 32.9%, after increasing every
year since 1996 (20.7%)
Women aged 20–24
and in their 30s were more likely to have a cesarean delivery in
2021 than in 2020 (25.3% to 25.4% for women aged 20–24,
33.7% to 33.8% for women aged 30–34, and 39.7% to 39.9%
for women aged 35–39).
Low-risk cesarean delivery—The low-risk cesarean
delivery rate increased 2% in 2021, from 25.9% (2020) to
26.3%. The low-risk cesarean delivery rate is cesarean delivery
among nulliparous (first birth), term (37 or more completed
weeks based on the obstetric estimate), singleton (one fetus),
and cephalic (head-first) births.
The opportunity to improve these rates is drastic! More info to come sharing strategies to avoid unnecessary c-sections