May 10, 2024 - News
Ohio's C-section birth rate is rising
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The rate of cesarean births in Ohio is rising, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control.
Why it matters: While generally safe — and sometimes necessary for the health of the baby or the mom — a C-section is a major abdominal surgery that tends to require a longer recovery for the mother.
By the numbers: Nearly 40,000 Ohio babies were born via C-section in 2023, a rate of 31.5%.
- That's well above the 10-15% rate that the WHO considers "ideal."
Zoom out: The national C-section delivery rate increased in 2023 to 32.4%, up from 32.1% in 2022, according to provisional CDC numbers.
- That's the highest rate since 2013, and the fourth annual increase after the rate generally declined from 2009 to 2019, says the CDC.