Are There Socio-Economic Differences in Caesarean Section Rates in Canada?

Abstract

Caesarean section rates have risen in recent years, sparking renewed debate about the circumstances under which such deliveries are being, and should be, performed. Some commentators suggest that increasing rates may, in part, be explained by women in higher-income brackets requesting elective caesareans (the so-called "too posh to push" hypothesis). After adjusting for maternal age, Canadian data do not support this theory. In fact, age-adjusted caesarean section rates were significantly lower in Canada's highest-income neighbourhoods than in the lowest-income areas in 2002-03.