Over Medicalization

What was the issue?

More hospitals are abandoning the traditional natural birth method by encouraging women to undergo surgical deliveries instead.

What is over-medicalization?

• Obstetrician involvement and unnecessary medical interventions in normal childbirth, without evidence of effectiveness, is called Over-Medicalization of childbirth.
• The problem of over-medicalization has been generally associated with high-income countries where there is the prevalence of private institutions.
• But now it is rapidly becoming more common in low and middle-income countries, also increasing the health costs and the risk of harm.

What are the risks of Caesarean delivery?

• Hospitals push women to have Caesareans since they are far costlier than natural births costing at least Rs 40,000.
• At times, it’s not the healthcare industry to be blamed entirely.
• There are patients who want their child to be born on a particular date, because it is auspicious. Others wish to avoid the pain of undergoing a natural birth.
• Caesareans are also likely to cause more infections and certain disorders, which include blood clotting, obstruction in bowel movements, bladder infection, and, in severe cases, even hemorrhage.
• It also increases the chances of mothers spiraling into post-partum depression and other post-traumatic stress.

• New-born are also subject to life-threatening risks.
• There is a possibility that they could get hurt, cut or suffocated during the procedure.
• When the child grows older, there are greater chances of him/her suffering from obesity or respiratory disorders like asthma as well.
• Experts claim that natural birth ensures a quicker recovery for mothers, and it gives newborns a family of microbes which strengthen their immunity.

What is the statistics on the issue?

• A report published by the ICMR School of Public Health states thst in the last decade, Telengana showed 74.8% of surgical deliveries in the private sector, Tamil Nadu showed 58% caesarean deliveries, while Kerala showed 41%.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the optimal caesarean birthrate should be at a minimum, not exceeding 10-15% of the overall deliveries that take place in a country.
• Childbirth is a traumatic experience.
• In the throes of pain, an uninformed woman will be convinced to have a surgical delivery, if her physician plants the idea.
• In high stress situations, even a mere suggestion does the trick.
• It is the responsibility of the parents to be well-versed in the options available to them in order to make informed choices.

• For all reasons and purposes, natural birth is recommended.
•  Regardless of everything, it’s important that hospitals declare the number of Caesarean births that take place that a stop can be put on unnecessary caesareans.

Source: Indian Express