Number of C-sections continues to increase

The number of women giving birth by Caesarean section (C-section) in Ireland continues to rise, year on year, as does the number of people taking antibiotics.

A report by the Department of Health, National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS) shows that on average 30.4% of women giving birth in Irish hospitals do so by C-section.

Cork University Maternity Hospital had one of the highest percentages of births by C-section at 32%, compared with the lowest figure of 24.3% in the National Maternity Hospital. St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny had the highest rate of births by C-sections at 35.5%.