Increase in cesarean sections in Brazil – a call to reflection

Abstract

Cesarean rates have increased progressively over the decades in all countries, and a high figure of 56% was reached in Brazil, second only to the Dominican Republic (59%) and well above the average of developing countries.[1] This scenario in our country motivated government and private sector initiatives, among which the Projeto Parto Adequado ("Adequate Childbirth Project"), with a view to reducing cesarean sections.[2] The set of these actions allowed for a stabilization and even a slight decrease in cesarean section rates according to data from the Information System on Live Births (Portuguese acronym: SINASC) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. However, preliminary data from SINASC for 2022 pointed to a further increase in cesarean sections in Brazil (cesarean section rates: 2016: 55.4%; 2017: 55.7%; 2018: 55.9%; 2019: 56.3%; 2020: 57.2%; 2021: 57%)[3] and motivated this reflection made by Brazilian obstetric schools.