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Births Involving Cesarean Section, VBAC, and Induction of Labor, by Maternal Risk Status,* 1990-2005**
| Age Group | Percent of Births | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | ||
| Cesarean Section (All Women) | 22.7% | 20.8% | 22.9% | 30.3% | |
| Cesarean Section (Low-Risk Women) | 19.6% | 17.4% | 19.1% | 25.6% | |
| VBAC (All Women) | 19.9% | 27.5% | 20.6% | 7.9% | |
| VBAC (Low-Risk Women) | 20.8% | 29.3% | 22.1% | 8.3% | |
| Induction of Labor (All Women) | 9.5% | 16.0% | 19.9% | 22.3% | |
*A low-risk woman is defined as one with a full-term (at least 37 completed weeks of gestation), singleton (not a multiple pregnancy), and vertex fetus (head facing in a downward position in the birth canal). ↑
**Data after 2003 for C-sections and VBACs are from the 37 reporting areas using the 1989 Standard Certificate of Live Birth (unrevised) to maintain comparability with previous years’ data.↑
Source: Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, Menacker F, Kirmeyer S, Munson ML. Births: Final data for 2005. National vital statistics reports; vol 56 no 6. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm, accessed12/12/07.
Menacker F. Trends in cesarean rates for first births and repeat cesarean rates for low-risk women: United States, 1990–2003. National vital statistics reports; vol 54 no 4. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm, accessed 12/12/07.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. VitalStats. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/vitalstats.htm, accessed 12/12/07.
