Need for Transparency Increases as Cesarean Section Rates Rise

With a staggering 31.8 percent of US births occurring by cesarean section, improved transparency in maternity care has never been more urgent.

The safety of birthing women is in serious jeopardy according to the recently released 2007 US birth statistics. Birth by cesarean section has increased by 50 percent since 1996 and now accounts for 31.8 percent of all US births. While the procedure can be life-saving when used appropriately, it is a major surgery that carries extensive risks for both mother and baby--risks that are not present in a vaginal birth. The 2007 rate is more than double the US Healthy People 2010 and the World Health Organization's recommended rate of 15 percent. Despite these facts, today's birthing women have no way of knowing if their local hospitals exceed the recommended rate.

We're calling on all CIMS Members and supporters to join our national effort to educate the public about the urgent need for transparency in maternity care. Here are three ways you can help today:

Forward the CIMS Press Release "Need for Transparency Increases as Cesarean Section Rates Rise" (PDF) to your local media outlets. Find media contacts in your area through the American College of Nurse-Midwives online Media Guide.
Learn how CIMS is mobilizing volunteers nationally by attending the April 3, 2009, Webinar "Introduction to the CIMS Transparency in Maternity Care Project."
Join CIMS as an Individual Member. Your support helps to achieve our long-term goal of making Mother-Friendly Care a reality, and it's tax-deductible as a charitable donation.

Transparency in Maternity Care Matters:

Intervention rates and outcomes vary widely across providers and facilities
Most of this variation has to do with factors unrelated to the woman's health status
Excess use of interventions leads to excess injury, cost
Access to hospital maternity care data is almost non-existent
Public awareness of quality indicators results in improved quality and informed decision making
Intervention rates can be lowered without compromising safety
Mother-friendliness is a measure of quality

Additional Resources:

Get tips for pitching to news reporters at the CIMS Grassroots Advocates Committee's Grassroots Grapevine
Healthy People 2010, Vol. 2, Section 16: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health

About Us

CIMS is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. Please visit us online at www.motherfriendly.org for more information.