Caesarean Birth Rates and New Regulations in Türkiye
In recent years, Türkiye has been in a significant position among European and OECD countries in terms of cesarean birth rates. This situation has become more prominent with the discussions on health policies and birth methods. Especially Sağlık Bakanlığı The new regulations published by bring remarkable changes in this regard. In this article, we will examine in detail the cesarean rates in Türkiye, our health system and the effects of the new regulations.
What is a Caesarean Birth?
Cesarean section is a surgical procedure performed to terminate pregnancy. This method is preferred in cases where vaginal delivery is risky. Cesarean section is usually emergencies, is done depending on the baby's position, the mother's health status or previous birth experiences. In Türkiye, this method has become more common, especially among women who have their first birth by cesarean section.
Caesarean Rates in Türkiye
In 2017, Türkiye ranked among the highest in terms of cesarean birth rates worldwide. At that time, the cesarean rate in Türkiye reached a high level of 53%. While experts are examining the reasons for these high rates, Inadequacy of health services provided to pregnant women and indicates that concerns about vaginal birth are effective. In Türkiye, especially Private hospitals Policies encouraging caesarean section have made this situation worse.
What the New Regulations Bring
The Ministry of Health announced that planned cesarean sections are prohibited in medical centers with the new regulation published on April 19, 2023. This regulation draws attention with the statement, "Planned cesarean sections cannot be performed in medical centers." This regulation was made with the aim of encouraging vaginal birth and restricts the authority of medical centers to perform births.
Medical Centers and Caesarean Section Ban
Medical centers are defined as private health institutions that provide outpatient diagnosis and treatment services. According to the Ministry of Health data, there are 629 medical centers in Türkiye. These centers generally do not offer overnight accommodation. Turkish Gynecology and Obstetrics Association President Prof. Dr. İsmail Mete İtil states that giving birth and performing cesarean sections are not recommended in these centers. Because it is known that cesarean sections require follow-up and therefore it is appropriate to perform them in an inpatient treatment environment.
The Importance of Vaginal Birth
Medical experts emphasize that encouraging vaginal birth is important. Dr. Alpay Azap states that vaginal birth is a preferred method at this point. However, he states that this decision should be made after an evaluation between the doctor and the pregnant woman. Azap, who states that it is wrong to determine the birth method by force, conveys that such prohibitions can create problems for women who need a cesarean section.
Consequences of Caesarean Birth
There are some risks for women who have had a cesarean section to have a vaginal birth in their next birth. This is important for the health of both the mother and the baby. In particular, it is recommended that women who had their first birth by cesarean section try vaginal birth in their second birth. However, the restrictions imposed by the Ministry on this issue can put women in a difficult situation.
Past and Future
There are many reasons for the high rates of cesarean sections in Türkiye. Inadequate monitoring of pregnancies, inadequacy of polyclinics and deficiencies of family physicians in monitoring pregnancies are among these reasons. In addition, the fact that normal birth is a time-consuming process and the functioning of private hospitals makes cesarean sections more practical makes this situation even more difficult.
As a result, the rate of cesarean births in Türkiye continues to be discussed along with the deficiencies in the health system and new regulations. The Ministry of Health's regulations in this area are considered as steps to encourage vaginal birth. However, it is extremely important to consider women's health rights in this process.
