C-section has outnumbered the normal delivery in the country as over half of the total childbirth took place through c-section in 2023.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has provided the information after conducting a survey.
Of the total childbirth, 50.07 per cent was delivered through c-section while 49.03 was delivered normally, according to the survey report published on Sunday.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 10 to 15 per cent of C-sections are acceptable.
The percentage of normal childbirth was higher in 2022 with a 58.06 in normal delivery meaning almost 9 per cent hike in c-section, the survey shows.
Calling the c-section rate alarming, Alamgir Hossen, project director of the survey, emphasised further study on the crucial issue.
Meanwhile, the total fertility rate (per women aged between 15-49 years) also declined to 2.17 in 2023 from 2.20 in 2020.
The 2022 demographic surveillance has found an alarming tendency of C-sections in city corporation areas. About three out of five births (58.21 per cent) were given through C-section in city corporation areas.
C-sections are meant to be reserved for situations when a natural delivery is not possible or if the health of a mother or a child is in danger but it allegedly has become an unnecessary practice in the country.
The previous BBS survey found that the private health facilities are responsible for 84.86 per cent C-section out of their total deliveries.
According to the previous Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, the C-section rate jumped to 45 per cent in 2022 from 34 per cent in 2017. It was 24 per cent in 2014 and 18 per cent in 2011.
Meanwhile, antenatal service seeking from skilled health personnel, however, increased in 2023 to 34.08 per cent from 34.34 in 2022 (four or more services during pregnancy period).
But, the rate is still unsatisfactory as the WHO recommends all pregnant mothers to complete at least four checkups under skilled health professionals.
According to Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council data, the country has a total of 7,235 registered midwives.
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