According to a new study, Greece has reached a critical turning point in maternal health, reporting the highest number of Cesarean sections (C-sections) per 100 births in the European Union.
While the global average for C-sections sat at 22% in 2023, Greece’s figures have soared far beyond international norms:
- Current Rate (2023): 62.2% of all births in Greece are performed via C-section.
- Rapid Growth: The rate climbed from 57.8% in 2019 to over 62% in just four years.
- EU Comparison: Greece’s rate is more than triple that of countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia, Belgium, and France, where C-sections remain below 20%.
Despite claims that late-age pregnancy drives these numbers, the data suggest otherwise. While 10.65% of Greek women give birth after age 40 (similar to Spain’s 10.79% and Ireland’s 11.27%), Greece’s C-section rate (62.2%) dwarfs Spain’s (24.7%) and Ireland’s (38.6%).
The cesarean section rate in Greece is a public health concern
The author of the study, Professor Vyron Kotzamanis, Director of the Institute of Demographic Research, emphasizes that these figures represent a “public health issue.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the “optimal” C-section rate is between 10% and 15%. Rates exceeding 20% are generally considered to indicate unnecessary medical intervention.
The study suggests that a large portion of these surgeries in developed nations like Greece are not medically indicated. Factors contributing to the “excessive” use of C-sections include:
- Higher financial costs for families and public health providers (EOPYY).
- Non-medical convenience or lack of institutional support for natural birth.
- Increased risks to both mother and newborn without a corresponding decrease in mortality rates.
The path forward
Since 2016, the WHO has urged Greece to take measures to halt this upward trend. Experts argue that the “C-section epidemic” requires immediate intervention, including:
- Policy Reform: Implementing strict protocols to limit non-essential surgeries, similar to measures taken successfully in other EU nations.
- Public Awareness: Launching nationwide campaigns to inform families about the risks of unnecessary C-sections.
- Medical Mobilization: Engaging gynecological and obstetric associations to reform clinical practices.
“These extremely high rates… place a heavy burden on the cost of childbirth,” states Prof. Kotzamanis. “But regardless of cost, excessive C-sections constitute a public health problem that makes intervention urgent.”
Global context
Globally, C-section rates have tripled since 1990. While this increase is seen as a positive sign in developing nations—where the procedure saves lives—in developed nations like Greece, the trend is viewed with increasing alarm by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).