❓ Hon Barbara Scott asked about the number and percentage of births by caesarean section in WA from 2000-2005. The answer provides the data and discusses factors contributing to the increasing rate and potential strategies for reversal.
AnsweredQoN 3431Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(b) 30 June 2001; (c) 30 June 2002; (d) 30 June 2003; (e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(c) 30 June 2002; (d) 30 June 2003; (e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(d) 30 June 2003; (e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(f) 30 June 2005?
(a) 30 June 2000: 6,126 (24.1%); (b) 30 June 2001: 6,784 (27.1%); (c) 30 June 2002: 7,360 (29.4%); (d) 30 June 2003: 7,459 (30.4%); (e) 30 June 2004: 8,218 (32.4%); and (f) 30 June 2005: 8,644 (33.6%). The increasing Caesarean Section rate is due to a number of factors: women's choice, fear of litigation, decreasing numbers of births per individual woman and changes in obstetric practice (e.g. breech delivery by caesarean section, less attempts at vaginal birth after caesarean section). Although it is highly desirable to reverse the rising caesarean section rate, it will not be easy due to the complexity of pressures, which has lead to the situation. Encouraging evidenced based best practice in a variety of models of care, as outlined in the Maternity Services Framework, will give women a wide choice in maternity care as well as good obstetric outcomes, which may include lower intervention rates.
The increasing Caesarean Section rate is due to a number of factors: women's choice, fear of litigation, decreasing numbers of births per individual woman and changes in obstetric practice (e.g. breech delivery by caesarean section, less attempts at vaginal birth after caesarean section). Although it is highly desirable to reverse the rising caesarean section rate, it will not be easy due to the complexity of pressures, which has lead to the situation. Encouraging evidenced based best practice in a variety of models of care, as outlined in the Maternity Services Framework, will give women a wide choice in maternity care as well as good obstetric outcomes, which may include lower intervention rates.
(c) 30 June 2002; (d) 30 June 2003; (e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(d) 30 June 2003; (e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(e) 30 June 2004; and (f) 30 June 2005?
(f) 30 June 2005?
(a) 30 June 2000: 6,126 (24.1%); (b) 30 June 2001: 6,784 (27.1%); (c) 30 June 2002: 7,360 (29.4%); (d) 30 June 2003: 7,459 (30.4%); (e) 30 June 2004: 8,218 (32.4%); and (f) 30 June 2005: 8,644 (33.6%). The increasing Caesarean Section rate is due to a number of factors: women's choice, fear of litigation, decreasing numbers of births per individual woman and changes in obstetric practice (e.g. breech delivery by caesarean section, less attempts at vaginal birth after caesarean section). Although it is highly desirable to reverse the rising caesarean section rate, it will not be easy due to the complexity of pressures, which has lead to the situation. Encouraging evidenced based best practice in a variety of models of care, as outlined in the Maternity Services Framework, will give women a wide choice in maternity care as well as good obstetric outcomes, which may include lower intervention rates.
The increasing Caesarean Section rate is due to a number of factors: women's choice, fear of litigation, decreasing numbers of births per individual woman and changes in obstetric practice (e.g. breech delivery by caesarean section, less attempts at vaginal birth after caesarean section). Although it is highly desirable to reverse the rising caesarean section rate, it will not be easy due to the complexity of pressures, which has lead to the situation. Encouraging evidenced based best practice in a variety of models of care, as outlined in the Maternity Services Framework, will give women a wide choice in maternity care as well as good obstetric outcomes, which may include lower intervention rates.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 May 2006
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
28 days
The number and percentage of births in Western Australia that were by caesarean section were, for the year ending -
(a) 30 June 2000: 6,126 (24.1%);
(b) 30 June 2001: 6,784 (27.1%);
(c) 30 June 2002: 7,360 (29.4%);
(d) 30 June 2003: 7,459 (30.4%);
(e) 30 June 2004: 8,218 (32.4%); and
(f) 30 June 2005: 8,644 (33.6%).
The increasing Caesarean Section rate is due to a number of factors: women's choice, fear of litigation, decreasing numbers of births per individual woman and changes in obstetric practice (e.g. breech delivery by caesarean section, less attempts at vaginal birth after caesarean section). Although it is highly desirable to reverse the rising caesarean section rate, it will not be easy due to the complexity of pressures, which has lead to the situation. Encouraging evidenced based best practice in a variety of models of care, as outlined in the Maternity Services Framework, will give women a wide choice in maternity care as well as good obstetric outcomes, which may include lower intervention rates.
(a) 30 June 2000: 6,126 (24.1%);
(b) 30 June 2001: 6,784 (27.1%);
(c) 30 June 2002: 7,360 (29.4%);
(d) 30 June 2003: 7,459 (30.4%);
(e) 30 June 2004: 8,218 (32.4%); and
(f) 30 June 2005: 8,644 (33.6%).
The increasing Caesarean Section rate is due to a number of factors: women's choice, fear of litigation, decreasing numbers of births per individual woman and changes in obstetric practice (e.g. breech delivery by caesarean section, less attempts at vaginal birth after caesarean section). Although it is highly desirable to reverse the rising caesarean section rate, it will not be easy due to the complexity of pressures, which has lead to the situation. Encouraging evidenced based best practice in a variety of models of care, as outlined in the Maternity Services Framework, will give women a wide choice in maternity care as well as good obstetric outcomes, which may include lower intervention rates.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.