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Cesarean Statistics and Facts
New Cesarean Statistics Published
Please visit the National ICAN website to read about the new 2006 C-Section rate information recently released.
Cesarean Facts
A cesarean is now the most common major operation performed in America. Two-thirds of all cesareans performed are on first time moms with a vertex presentation or are elective, repeat cesareans on moms with a vertex presentation and one prior low-transverse incision. Cesarean rates are lowest for teenage mothers and increase steadily with maternal age. The 1999 cesarean rate for mothers in their 30s and 40s is approximately double that for teenagers. Of women who attempt VBAC, over 80% succeed.
2004 cesarean statistics from the CDC:
- Cesarean rate for 2004 is 29.1%
- The rate is up from 27.6% in 2003
- U.S. cesareans have risen 40% since 1996
- First-time cesareans are at an historical high of 20.6%
- VBAC rate fell to 9.2%
- Since 1996, the VBAC rate in the U.S. has plummeted 67%
If you find these numbers as alarming as we do, come to a meeting or join Iowa ICAN to see how we can make a difference by working together!
Iowa Cesarean Statistics
The c-section rate in Iowa for 2006 was 28.3%, with a VBAC rate of 7.7%. The c-section rate was 28.9% in 2004, 28.1% in 2003 and 24.8% in 2002. (Source: CDC)
Iowa Cesarean rate by County (for the 10 counties with the greatest number of births), 2006.
County |
Cesarean Rate |
VBAC rate |
Total Births |
Polk |
28.8% |
8.0% |
9,545 |
| Linn |
29.1% |
8.1% |
3,583 |
| Johnson |
26.3% |
21.8% |
2,952 |
| Black Hawk |
22.3% |
11.7% |
2,633 |
| Scott |
29.0% |
6.3% |
2,360 |
| Woodbury |
27.1% |
0.0% |
1,913 |
| Dubuque |
23.0% |
19.5% |
1,372 |
| Story |
22.3% |
11.7% |
1,361 |
| Cerro Gordo |
32.2% |
2.1% |
1,098 |
| Pottawattamie |
29.8% |
3.5% |
994 |
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Source: Iowa Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics. Reported by the county where the birth took place, not the county of residence.
Iowa Cesarean rate by Hospital (for some of Iowa's larger hospitals), 2006.
Hospital |
Cesarean Rate |
VBAC rate |
| Allen Memorial (Black Hawk County) |
23.9% |
6.9% |
| Covenant Medical Center (Black Hawk County) |
21.4% |
15.2% |
| Mercy (Cerro Gordo County) |
32.2% |
2.1% |
| Mercy Health Center - Dubuque (Dubuque County) |
25.7% |
13.8% |
| Mercy (Johnson County) |
15.6% |
31.9% |
| Univ of Iowa Hospital (Johnson County) |
35.0% |
15.5% |
| Mercy (Linn County) |
30.6% |
6.5% |
| St. Luke's Methodist (Linn County) |
28.7% |
8.7% |
| Broadlawns (Polk County) |
26.4% |
4.3% |
| Iowa Lutheran (Polk County) |
24.8% |
17.5% |
| Iowa Methodist (Polk County) |
27.9% |
9.5% |
| Mercy (Polk County) |
31.4% |
4.7% |
| Genesis (Scott County) |
28.9% |
6.7% |
| Mary Greeley (Story County) |
22.5% |
11.7% |
| Ottumwa Regional Health Center (Wapello County) |
31.5% |
0.0% |
| St. Luke's (Woodbury County) |
28.7% |
0.0% |
Source: Iowa Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics
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