C-Sections Soar in Private Hospitals, Drop in Public: West Bengal, Telangana Lead High Rates

• A new study reveals a nationwide trend: C-sections are declining in public hospitals but steadily rising in private facilities across India.
• West Bengal's Murshidabad and Nadia districts show over 90% C-sections in private hospitals, the highest in India, with Telangana's Karimnagar also exceeding 91%.
• National data from 2016-2021 indicates a 1.2% drop in public hospital C-sections (15.5% to 14.3%) but a 2.1% rise in private hospitals (45.4% to 47.5%).
• State-level factors significantly influence C-section rates more than district or village factors, with southern states like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala showing high prevalence.
• The study warns of health and economic risks from unnecessary C-sections, calling for stronger regulation of private healthcare and improved public sector capacity.

Why It Matters: C-section rates diverge sharply between public and private hospitals, highlighting urgent needs for regulation and public health strengthening.