Canadian Government Publishes Birth Intervention Rates for 2008-2009

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By Jill—Unnecesarean

Data pertaining to the 374,000 babies born in Canadian hospitals in 2008-09 was published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information this week.

Highlights of 2008–2009 Selected Indicators Describing the Birthing Process in Canada, a bulletin that summarizes key information on 2008–2009 select indicators pertaining to the birthing process in Canada, can be downloaded here.

Total cesarean rates were not released and will be available here when the Health Indicators 2010 report is published.

Summary of 2008-2009 rates:

 

Graphs produced by the Canadian Institute for Health Information:

Figure 1: Rates of Vacuum Extraction and Forceps-Assisted Vaginal Deliveries, Canada, 2008–2009

Figure 2: Epidural Rates Among Vaginal Deliveries, Canada, 2006–2007 to 2008–2009

Figure 3: Primary Caesarean Section Rate, by Age Group (Younger Than 35 and 35 and Older), Canada, 2008–2009

Figure 4: Primary Caesarean Section Rate, Canada, 2006–2007 to 2008–2009

Comments

[B]

I didn't expect to see that Quebec with the highest epidural use has lower assisted delivery rates than British Columbia, which has lower epidural use. The figures for Nunavut are shocking.

[Heather]

Nunavut is a very rural area, so those rates are not surprising...

I AM surprised that B.C. has improved.. I'm a BCer myself and up until recently our local hospital in Victoria, BC had the worst cesarean rate in the country.

[Lee-Ann]

I was pleased to see that in my province, Manitoba we've got some of the lower numbers across the board!!! I'm sure our fantastic midwives (that we are in need of so many more of) have helped our numbers! :)

[Alissa]

Now that I'm living in the U.S. and researching reproduction here, these numbers make me proud to be a Canadian!!!

[TO Doula]

Thanks so much for posting this. Do you know what they are counting under "Assisted Delivery"? Because for Ontario and for the country as a whole the number vacuum extractions and the number of forceps assists do not add up to the total number of assisted births. What am I missing?

[Jessica]

The repeat c/s rates are abyssmal!! Holy cow.