Abstract
Background
Caesarean rates are increasing in Brazil and worldwide, and there is a concern regarding the consequences of this increase for maternal and child health.
Objective
This study aimed to analyse the proportions and the time trend of cesarean sections in the Health Region of Paraná State.
Method
This is a time-series ecological study using data from the Information System on Live Births. The analyzes of the proportions and trends of cesarean sections were performed between 2003 and 2014, in three-year periods. Linear regression was used to analyze cesarean rate trends, with the significance level set at 5%.
Results
The largest proportions of cesarean sections occurred between 2012 and 2014 (53.8% to 80.2%), except for the 1st Health Region (Paranaguá), with larger proportions between 2009 and 2011. All the regional ones presented an increasing trend in the proportion of cesarean sections (all p values < 0.05), except the 1st Health Region that remained with a steady trend (p = 0.10). The vast majority of the Health Region of Paraná State presented a higher proportion of cesarean sections than Brazil, for all three-year periods.
Conclusion
The results indicate high proportions of cesarean sections in the Health Region in Paraná State and the vast majority showed an increasing trend of cesarean sections.
Keywords:
cesarean section; parturition; maternal and child health; time-series studies; epidemiology
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