DHO calls for meeting rate of Cesarean births increase

Davanagere
District Health Officer S. Shanmukappa has raised concerns about the high cesarean delivery rates in Davangere, stating that they are significantly higher than natural births. At Chigateri Hospital and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, cesarean births account for 72% of total deliveries, while private hospitals report a rate of 40%. Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao was reportedly shocked upon reviewing this data.
Shanmukappa emphasized that despite the lack of well-established healthcare facilities in surrounding districts, Davangere’s healthcare system seems to be increasingly favoring cesarean sections over natural births. In response to the findings, the health department plans to hold a meeting with private hospitals to address the rising cesarean rates and discuss ways to reduce them.
Between April and October, a total of 4,291 deliveries were recorded in private hospitals, of which 3,093 were cesarean sections. At Chigateri and Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 3,079 cesareans were reported out of 7,676 deliveries during the same period. Across both private and government hospitals, 6,172 cesarean deliveries were recorded in just seven months.
The DHO revealed that in neighboring areas like Davangere, Harihara, Jagaluru, Channagiri, and Honnalli, cesarean delivery rates ranged between 36% to 44%. Measures will be taken to investigate the causes of these high rates and to encourage natural childbirth wherever possible.