There has been a slight fall in the number of caesarians in Switzerland, according to the latest childbirth statistics. But the rate remains high internationally.
A total of 85,990 women gave birth in a Swiss hospital or birthing home in 2017, figures released on Friday revealed. Most of these births took place in a hospital (98.3%), with birthing homes accounting for just under 2% (a rise of 0.6% since 2012).
Caesarians made up 32.3% of births. The rate of caesarians has been gradually falling since 2014 (-1.4%), the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said in a statementExternal link.
The decline in the caesarean section rate is recent and small, so it is difficult to have a reliable explanation as to why, the FSO told swissinfo.ch.
However, the Swiss rate of 32.3% “remains a very high caesarian rate in European comparison,” added the statement.
International comparisons
Neighbour Germany had a similar rate, whereas Italy was just ahead of Switzerland at around 35%, it said. The lowest rates were in Finland and Norway with just over 15%.
A study published inExternal link 2018 by the LancetExternal link found that C-section deliveries had nearly doubled worldwide since 2000. It put the average rate for Western Europe at 26.9% (2015 figures).
This was lower than North America (32%) and considerably lower than in Latin America and the Caribbean at 44.3%, the world leader.
Breach, multiples
The most common reasons for the procedure in Switzerland were a breach birth, twins or triplets and that the baby was in an abnormal position. Women with private health care and those over 40 years old had higher rates too, at 45.6% and 50.7%, respectively.
The average age of women at birth is still rising. The percentage of women over 35 becoming mothers has tripled since 1970: then it was 11.3%, in 2017 it was 32.2%. There are now fewer mothers under 20 years old (1970: 3.6%, 2017, 0.4%).
But overall, complications during birth and pregnancy are rare, the statistics show.
More
More
The rift between natural birth and on-demand C-sections
This content was published on
When it comes to giving birth, for some women the process can’t be natural enough while others request a C-section from the early stages of pregnancy.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
New cash bonus for babies born south of the Swiss Alps
This content was published on
In an effort to boost the local birthrate, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland is introducing a CHF3,000 ($3,032) bonus for having a child.
This content was published on
Particularly procedures that are not deemed necessary are causing the divide. It is an emotional issue that has hardened the fronts between advocates and opponents, who cannot even agree whether the current rate is too high or not. So what are the facts? The lowest C-section rates (19 per cent) are found in rural Jura,…
This content was published on
The average age of women giving birth in Switzerland hovers around 32. The number of over 35s having children is also growing. We examine the shifts.
This content was published on
The costs of childbirth or a treatment against AIDS must be reimbursed even if patients are in arrears with their health insurance payments.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.