Cesarean deliveries surge in Puerto Rico, reaching a record rate in the US territory, report says
ABC News
Cesareans are surging in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which has one of the world’s highest rates
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Cesareans are surging in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which has one of the world’s highest rates with more than 50% of babies now delivered via surgery compared with only 32% on the U.S. mainland, according to a federal report released Wednesday.
The rates of cesarean delivery on the island increased from 2018 to 2022 for each age group younger than 40 after remaining stable for nearly a decade, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report did not provide an explanation, but medical experts in Puerto Rico say reasons behind the surge vary and include the island’s crumbling health care system.
“In general, hospitals have limited personnel and few economic resources,” said Dr. Carlos Díaz Vélez, president of Puerto Rico’s Association of Surgical Doctors.
As a result, ob-gyns prefer to schedule a cesarean to ensure they will have all the medical personnel required for a birth, he said.
