NCHS Data Briefs

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NCHS Data Briefs from the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The following reports have been added:

Data Brief No. 124. Changes in Cesarean Delivery Rates by Gestational Age: United States, 1996–2011

The total U.S. cesarean delivery rate reached a high of 32.9% of all births in 2009, rising 60% from the most recent low of 20.7 in 1996. Recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists developed clinical guidelines for reducing the occurrence of nonmedically-indicated cesarean delivery and labor induction prior to 39 weeks. Efforts to reduce such births include initiatives to improve perinatal care quality, changes in hospital policy to disallow elective delivery prior to 39 weeks, and education of the public. Since 2009, the U.S. cesarean delivery rate has not increased. This report explores cesarean delivery rates by gestational age for 1996–2011, focusing on 2009–2011. Data for 2011 are preliminary; 1996–2010 data are final. Analysis is limited to singleton births; multiple births are nearly 2.5 times more likely to be delivered by cesarean.

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