Epidemiological review demonstrates increased neonatal neurological injury at 10% versus 20% cesarean delivery rates, highlighting the need to reconsider global benchmarks.
( BJOG 2025;132:1789–1790. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.18315) The global increase in cesarean delivery rates (CDRs) has become a significant topic of discussion in obstetrics, with ongoing debate about what constitutes an optimal rate. A recent study by Moster and colleagues challenges earlier guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), which suggested that CDRs between 10% and 15% were ideal. Their findings indicate that areas with a 10% CDR experienced nearly double the risk of neonatal encephalopathy and a 50% higher incidence of cerebral palsy compared to regions with a 20% rate. These results suggest that lower CDRs may not always correspond to better neonatal outcomes, prompting reconsideration of previously accepted benchmarks.
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PJ Steer (2026) studied this question.
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