Korea is found to be the world's leader in the ratio of Caesarean section with a 43% of all deliveries

Last year, Caesarean section constituted 43% of all deliveries in Korea. It is far greater than the World Health Organization`s recommendation for Cesarean operation ratio of 10% and is even more than double the United States, which is known as the world`s leader in Caesarean section with a 20% ratio in 1998.

National Health Insurance Corporation announced Friday that the recent survey of 161,360 deliveries by public servants, school teachers and regional health insurance buyers who used the nation`s 1,487childbirth service institutions during the second half of 1999 showed that 57% of the total, or 91,939 cases were normal deliveries and the remaining 43%, or 69,421 were Caesarean section.

In 1985, Caesarean operation accounted for a meager 6% of all deliveries. But the ratio sharply increased to 21.3% in 1995 and further rose to 36.1% in 1998`s first half. In 14 years, the ratio of Caesarean section soared by 7.2-fold.

It is pointed out that such an increase is attributed to physicians¡¯ recommendation for Caesarean section since it adds up their income from medical services. Caesarean operation requires longer days of hospitalization compared with normal delivery. Also, its operational cost is much higher than that of normal delivery. Normal delivery requires an average of 2.9 days of hospitalization, whereas Caesarean operation requires an average of 7.4 days.

The average cost for normal delivery is 332,885 won whereas that of Caesarean operation is 863,491 won. Some medical institutions even instigate Caesarean operation for greater service income. In addition, some women prefer Caesarean operation to maintain their figure or control the baby`s birth date.

Caesarean section may cause a complication because of anesthesia for the operation. The mortality rate during delivery is nearly four times higher in Caesarean section than normal delivery.

Also, there is a possibility of uterine infection, bleeding and gallbladder diseases triggered by the operation. With the delay in breast-feeding, women in childbed are reluctant to feed breast milk and they require longer recovery period.

Sanggun Seo songmoon@donga.com