AP Targets Cut in C-Section Deliveries

VIJAYAWADA: Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav has directed officials to reduce Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries in Andhra Pradesh from the current 51 per cent to 35 per cent by 2028–29, while promoting natural childbirth across government and private hospitals.

Reviewing the performance of the health department on Friday, the minister expressed concern over the rising number of C-section deliveries. He asked officials to reduce the rate from 43 per cent to 24 per cent in government hospitals and from 64 per cent to 47 per cent in private hospitals.

He directed officials to conduct a comprehensive audit of C-section deliveries in both government and private hospitals and launch a one-month pilot project in 20 government hospitals to assess the reasons behind the high rate of surgical deliveries. The findings will be used to frame corrective measures.

The minister also instructed district medical and health officers to inspect private hospitals regularly, curb unnecessary C-sections and encourage normal deliveries wherever medically feasible.

Health experts informed the minister that rising obesity among pregnant women and health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes were among the major reasons for the increasing preference for C-section deliveries.

According to official data, Andhra Pradesh recorded a 53.85 per cent C-section rate in 2025–26, the fourth highest in the country, against the national average of 30.13 per cent. Telangana topped the list with 55.40 per cent, followed by Jammu and Kashmir with 55.40 per cent and Tamil Nadu with 54.92 per cent.

In Andhra Pradesh, 2.80 lakh of the 5.20 lakh deliveries during 2025–26 were performed through C-section.