The Caesarean section is a surgical operation to extract a baby from the womb by making an incision on the abdomen and on the womb.
The origin of the name caesarean section is uncertain. But it likely comes from a law promulgated by the Caesars (rulers of the Roman Empire) which mandated that babies be cut out of dead or dying mothers rather than being buried with them.
How Common are Caesarean Sections?
The Caerarean section (CS) is a life-saving surgery. But in Nigeria only about 2.1% of child births are via CS. But the WHO expects that 10-15% of childbirths shoud be via CS. This means that Nigerians are very likely underutilizing this impotant operation.
On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom, about a third of their childbirths are via CS. This means that they are possibly overutilizing this surgery and performing unnecessary operations. In Nigeria, particulary in some unscupulous private hospitals, this kind of abuse is also possible. Because some doctors deceive pregnant women into performing unnecessary CS for the finanacial gain of the surgery.
However, in Nigeria, the far bigger problem is that we are not doing enough Caesarean sections. For several reasons.
Why Does Nigeria Have So Few Caesarean Sections?
- Access: Many Nigerians live in rural areas several kilometers away from a hospital where they can access any safe maternal care at all, talk less of a Caesarean section.
- Cultural beliefs: Some Nigerians have the notion that a woman who cannot ‘push out’ her baby via conventional labour is somehow less of a woman.In addition, Nigerian women many times are not empowered to make autonomous decisions regarding theor own bodies or their reproductive health. Hence, husbands may decline or delay a CS even when it has be recommended to save the womamn or her child. The religious expection of miracles or divine help during childbirth may also play a role here.
- Quacks: many Nigerians see orthodox medicine (and surgery!) as a last resort. They will first use traditional medicine providers whom they judge a cheaper and more trustworthy alternative.
- Cost: Caesarean sections are not cheap, even in government hospitals.
- Fear: Fear is an understandable response to the prospect of surgery. But women may overestimate the length, extensiveness, risk or recovery time of the surgery and so stay away.
Consequences of Poor CS Uptake
Stick with us for a seccond part of this post where we learn why a CS is safe when you should get one.
