Caesarean rates at record high

09 December 2005

The number of caesarean section births is continuing to rise in Australia, according to a new report produced by UNSW researchers.

The report, Mothers and Babies 2003, was prepared by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's National Perinatal Statistics Unit, which is part of UNSW.

Professor Michael Chapman, Head of the School of Women's and Children's Health, in the Faculty of Medicine said that 28.5 percent of mothers had a caesarean section delivery in 2003, compared with 19.4 percent in 1994.

"Caesarean section rates tend to be higher among older mothers and those admitted to private hospitals," said Professor Chapman.

In 2003, there were 256,925 babies reported to the National Perinatal Data Collection, born to 252,584 mothers.

Professor Chapman said the upward trend in maternal age is continuing. The average age of all mothers was 29.5 years and for first-time mothers was 27.6 years.

For further information, go to the AIHW website