The World Health Organisation has called on medical doctors to only perform caesarean sections when medically necessary.
According to the WHO, caesarean section is one of the most common surgeries in the world, with the rates rising, particularly in high-and middle-income countries.
The global health body, in a statement on Friday in Geneva, said although it could save lives, caesarean section was often performed without medical need, putting women and their babies at risk of short- and long-term health problems.
It urged the need for medical practitioners to focus on the needs of the patient, on a case-by-case basis, and discourage the practice of aiming for “target rates.”
According to the WHO, caesarean section is one of the most common surgeries in the world, with the rates rising, particularly in high-and middle-income countries.
The global health body, in a statement on Friday in Geneva, said although it could save lives, caesarean section was often performed without medical need, putting women and their babies at risk of short- and long-term health problems.
It urged the need for medical practitioners to focus on the needs of the patient, on a case-by-case basis, and discourage the practice of aiming for “target rates.”