“Everywhere you see, C-sections are happening”: examining trends and reasons for a rise in cesarean-section deliveries among women in urban informal settlements, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, using a mixed methods approach

This study examines the increasing rate of cesarean section (C-section) deliveries among women living in urban informal settlements in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India. Researchers used a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data from 5,162 mothers with interviews of women and obstetric practitioners. The findings show that C-section rates rose from 25% in 2019 to 37% in 2024, indicating a growing trend in surgical deliveries. The research found that the rise in C-sections is driven by a combination of medical, institutional, and social factors. Limited healthcare infrastructure, staff shortages, evolving obstetric practices, increased risk perception among doctors, and low maternal awareness all contribute to higher C-section rates. These factors affect both public and private healthcare facilities, although most women in the study accessed public services.