Over half of J&K births now through c-section; urban rate hits 68.9%: NFHS-6

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, Jul 10: The number of babies being delivered through Caesarean section (C-section) in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant rise over the past few years, with the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) revealing that more than half of all births in the Union Territory now take place through surgical delivery. The trend is particularly striking in private hospitals, where nearly 90 per cent of deliveries are performed through C-section.

According to the National Family Health Survey-6 (2023-24), accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the overall Caesarean section rate in Jammu and Kashmir has increased to 51 per cent, compared to 41.7 per cent recorded in the NFHS-5 (2019-21), indicating a notable shift in childbirth practices across both public and private healthcare institutions.

The survey shows that 90 per cent of births in private hospitals were delivered through Caesarean section during 2023-24, a sharp increase from 82.1 per cent reported in the previous survey. Government health institutions have also recorded a rise, with 48.6 per cent of deliveries being surgical compared to 42.7 per cent in NFHS-5.

The findings indicate that surgical childbirth has become increasingly common across the Union Territory, particularly in urban areas. The survey records that 68.9 per cent of births in urban Jammu and Kashmir were through C-section, while the figure stood at 47.1 per cent in rural areas.

Despite the growing reliance on Caesarean deliveries, institutional childbirth remains consistently high. The report states that 93.6 percent of births in Jammu and Kashmir now take place in health institutions, reflecting improved access to maternal healthcare services and greater awareness among expectant mothers about institutional deliveries.

Medical experts say several factors have contributed to the growing number of Caesarean deliveries. Besides complications during pregnancy and high-risk pregnancies, many women now prefer planned C-sections due to fear of labour pain and the convenience of scheduling delivery.

Dr Rukhsana, a gynaecologist working in south Kashmir, said that normal deliveries were far more common a decade ago, but attitudes have gradually changed.

“Earlier, most women preferred normal childbirth and Caesarean sections were reserved mainly for medical emergencies. Today, many expectant mothers themselves opt for C-sections because they fear prolonged labour pain or want a planned delivery. At the same time, doctors recommend surgery whenever there is even a slight risk to the mother or the baby,” she said.

Another gynaecologist said improved diagnostic facilities and continuous fetal monitoring have enabled doctors to identify complications much earlier than before.

“Modern obstetric care focuses on ensuring the safety of both mother and child. While unnecessary Caesarean sections should be avoided, the procedure is often life-saving in complicated pregnancies. However, every effort should be made to encourage normal delivery whenever it is medically safe,” the doctor added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that Caesarean section rates at the population level should ideally range between 10 and 15 per cent, noting that rates beyond this level are not necessarily associated with better health outcomes for mothers or newborns.

However, the latest survey suggests that Jammu and Kashmir’s C-section rate is now significantly above this benchmark, highlighting the need for continued assessment of childbirth practices while ensuring that medical decisions remain based on clinical necessity and the safety of both mother and child—(KNO)