Estimating c-section coverage: Assessing method performance and characterizing variations in coverage

BACKGROUND: Cesarean section (c-section) is an essential tool for preventing, stillbirths, maternal, and newborn death. However, data on coverage of medically necessary c-section is limited in low- and middle-income settings. METHODS: We estimated national c-section coverage using household survey data from 98 low- and middle-income countries. To disaggregate elective and medically necessary c-sections, we estimated the proportion of women in each survey wealth quintile who gave birth via c-section assuming a denominator that 12.5% of births necessitate a c-section delivery. We capped stratum coverage at 100%. We estimated national c-section coverage weighting for the proportion of births occurring in each wealth quintile. We examined 1) variation in estimated c-section by wealth quintile, national income classification, and stage in the obstetric transition, 2) how varying definitions impact the classification of countries' access to c-section, and 3) correlation between c-section and related mortality outcomes. RESULTS: Both increasing national and household wealth are associated with increasing levels of c-section coverage and c-section rate. C-section coverage was highly inequitable by wealth within a country. Differentials in coverage were most pronounced in countries with c-section rates below 10%; however, some countries showed significant gaps in c-section coverage in poor subpopulations despite high c-section rates nationally. The choice of indicator and threshold altered whether a country was classified as having adequate access to c-section services. C-section coverage estimates showed a stronger relationship with closely related health outcomes than national c-section rates. CONCLUSIONS: Generating estimates of c-section coverage is crucial for gauging gaps in c-section access. Our approach for calculating c-section coverage using stratification by wealth to adjust for potential elective c-sections is supported by the strong correlations between household wealth and subnational c-section rate, and the association between our coverage estimates and health outcomes at a national level. Looking at national c-section rates alone may paint an inaccurate picture of c-section access and mask subnational inequities in coverage. The need to accurately measure access to c-section will continue to increase as growth in LMICs drives inequities in coverage and introduces dual concerns related to c-section overuse in some populations while others lack access to care.