Volume 45 | Number 5p1 | October 2010

Abstract List

Ke‐Zong M. Ma, Edward C. Norton Ph.D., Shoou‐Yih D. Lee Ph.D.


Objective

To test the hypothesis that declining fertility would affect the number of cesarean sections (c‐sections) on maternal demand, but not medically indicated c‐sections.


Data Sources

The 1996–2004 National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan for all singleton deliveries.


Study Design

Retrospective population‐based, longitudinal study. Estimation was performed using multinomial probit models.


Principal Findings

Results revealed that declining fertility had a significant positive effect on the probability of having a c‐section on maternal request but not medically indicated c‐section.


Conclusions

Our findings offer a precautionary note to countries experiencing a fertility decline. Policies to contain the rise of c‐sections should understand the role of women's preferences, especially regarding cesarean deliveries on maternal request.