<p>Bengaluru: Bengaluru Urban recorded the highest number of caesarean (C-section) deliveries in Karnataka this year, with 53,905 procedures performed between April and October, data from the State Health Department has shown.</p><p>The data, accessed by <em>DH</em>, reveals that in 2022-23, Bengaluru Urban reported 1,12,341 C-section deliveries across public and private hospitals, constituting 40 per cent of all institutional deliveries. Though the absolute number fell to 73,839 in 2023-24, the percentage of C-sections out of total deliveries increased to 44 per cent. </p><p>This year, the percentage has risen further, with nearly half of all deliveries (49%) in the district being C-sections. Of all C-section deliveries in Bengaluru Urban this year, 58 per cent were performed in private hospitals, while 41% occurred in government facilities. </p>.New mother dies in Kalaburagi, medical negligence alleged.<p>Across Karnataka, 4,61,599 C-sections were recorded, accounting for 46 per cent of all deliveries, between April and October this year.</p><p><strong>Causes</strong> </p><p>Dr Sheela V Mane, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, attributed the high numbers to several factors, including referrals from nearby districts such as Hassan, Tumakuru, Hosur, and Bengaluru Rural to Bengaluru's tertiary care hospitals.</p><p>She explained that complications like foetal distress, maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-labour bleeding, or risks to the baby’s health often necessitate C-sections.</p><p>“Complicated cases from government or private clinics are referred to district hospitals and medical colleges in Bengaluru, which skews the numbers,” added a health department official.</p><p>Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of the Health Department, said it is crucial to address unnecessary C-sections. “We must identify the reasons behind these numbers. If high-risk pregnancies are the cause, we need to reduce those factors,” he said.</p><p>The government has formed a team of independent experts and representatives from Vani Vilas Hospital, along with officials from the medical education and health departments, to investigate C-section trends across the state, including in Bengaluru Urban.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Bengaluru Urban recorded the highest number of caesarean (C-section) deliveries in Karnataka this year, with 53,905 procedures performed between April and October, data from the State Health Department has shown.</p><p>The data, accessed by <em>DH</em>, reveals that in 2022-23, Bengaluru Urban reported 1,12,341 C-section deliveries across public and private hospitals, constituting 40 per cent of all institutional deliveries. Though the absolute number fell to 73,839 in 2023-24, the percentage of C-sections out of total deliveries increased to 44 per cent. </p><p>This year, the percentage has risen further, with nearly half of all deliveries (49%) in the district being C-sections. Of all C-section deliveries in Bengaluru Urban this year, 58 per cent were performed in private hospitals, while 41% occurred in government facilities. </p>.New mother dies in Kalaburagi, medical negligence alleged.<p>Across Karnataka, 4,61,599 C-sections were recorded, accounting for 46 per cent of all deliveries, between April and October this year.</p><p><strong>Causes</strong> </p><p>Dr Sheela V Mane, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, attributed the high numbers to several factors, including referrals from nearby districts such as Hassan, Tumakuru, Hosur, and Bengaluru Rural to Bengaluru's tertiary care hospitals.</p><p>She explained that complications like foetal distress, maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-labour bleeding, or risks to the baby’s health often necessitate C-sections.</p><p>“Complicated cases from government or private clinics are referred to district hospitals and medical colleges in Bengaluru, which skews the numbers,” added a health department official.</p><p>Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of the Health Department, said it is crucial to address unnecessary C-sections. “We must identify the reasons behind these numbers. If high-risk pregnancies are the cause, we need to reduce those factors,” he said.</p><p>The government has formed a team of independent experts and representatives from Vani Vilas Hospital, along with officials from the medical education and health departments, to investigate C-section trends across the state, including in Bengaluru Urban.</p>