Abstract

GOMEZ-DANTES, Octavio. Lucina's kidnap (or how to stop the cesarean section epidemic). Salud pública Méx [online]. 2004, vol.46, n.1, pp.71-74. ISSN 0036-3634.

Cesarean sections rates have increased considerably in high- and middle-income countries in recent years. In Latin America the rates of surgical births reached 30% in Brazil, 40% in Chile, and 36% in Mexico. This essay describes the relationship of cesarean section with several mythological characters, presents a brief history of surgical births, and discusses the possible origin of its explosive increase. Among the factors associated to this epidemic we can mention economic incentives, a mounting supply of specialists, and the lack of comprehensive information on birth alternatives for pregnant women.The essay concludes with a call for a generalized control of this procedure based on evidence gathered through different kinds of interventions.

Keywords : caesarean section; Asclepius; Hygieia; Lucina; Mexico.

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