South Korea Records High Cesarean Section Rate
South Korea recorded 67.4 percent of its 235,234 births by cesarean section in 2024, far exceeding the World Health Organization's 10–15 percent recommendation. The report, citing United Nations and WHO figures, attributes the high rate to perceived safety, defensive medical practices, cultural birth-date preferences, older maternal age, and fertility treatments. Experts warn of maternal hemorrhage, neonatal respiratory issues, and long-term risks like placenta accreta.
Key Points
- 1Reports show 67.4% of 235,234 South Korean births were by C-section in 2024.
- 2Cultural preferences, defensive medical practices, older mothers and fertility treatments drive elevated C-section rates.
- 3Reevaluate informed consent processes to ensure communication of long-term risks like placenta accreta.
Scoring Rationale
Relevant national statistics and WHO context, but limited novelty and mostly news reporting reduces actionable impact.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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