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Researchers at University of Tsukuba report that the percentage of births by cesarean section in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020 to October 2022) increased to 21.19%, which is approximately 1 percentage point higher from the pre-pandemic rate of 20.27%. This finding indicates that cesarean sections were performed for infection control and other purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to this increase.

Tsukuba, Japan—During the COVID-19 pandemic, cesarean sections were performed for shorter delivery times and infection control purposes, adhering to guidelines issued jointly by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association, and Japanese Society of Obstetric Infectious Diseases. These measures may have contributed to the increased number of cesarean sections, thereby affecting many women in Japan. However, the number of cesarean sections before and after the COVID-19 pandemic had not been previously evaluated.

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba compared the percentage of births via cesarean section (total number of cesarean sections divided by total number of births) for the entire country using data and demographic statistics extracted specifically from the National Health Insurance Database from April 2018 to October 2022. The percentage of births by cesarean section before the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2018-December 2019) was 20.27%, increasing to 21.19% during the pandemic (January 2020-October 2022). The percentage of births by cesarean section in Japan varied by pandemic wave, peaking at 22.14% during the sixth wave (January-June 2022) and decreasing to 21.27% during the seventh wave (July-October 2022). These findings indicate a slight nationwide increase in the number of cesarean sections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the number of cesarean sections in Japan has been increasing in recent years, this study did not consider this increasing trend prior to the data period due to the limited timeframe of the available data. Given the findings of this study, appropriate childbirth methods should be discussed during future infectious disease outbreaks and possible countermeasures explored.

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This work was supported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Grant/Award Number: JPMH23 HA2011

Original Paper

Title of original paper:

Changes in Proportions of Cesarean Section before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

Journal:

The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research

DOI:

10.1111/jog.16370

Correspondence

SHIMADA Kensuke, MD, MPH, PhD
Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences
(Current position: Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba)

Assistant Professor KOMIYAMA Jun, MPH, PhD
Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba

ISO Hiroyasu, MD, MPH, PhD
Director of Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of Global Health Cooperation, Japan Institute for Health Seculity

Related Link

Institute of Medicine